01.09.2025  “The Bertelsmann study emphasizes: Young people see dual training as an attractive career path – and German companies are working hard to enable them to get vocational training. If many places still remain vacant, it is mainly due to a lack of vocational orientation on the way to the suitable apprenticeship. This is where efforts must focus, especially during the last school years.

We urgently need mandatory vocational guidance in all schools – with the strongest possible involvement of companies and professionals from corporate practice. Grammar schools must not only emphasize academic studies but also inform about the very good career prospects and earning opportunities of vocational education. The nationwide campaign “Apprenticeships reveal our potential” by the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHKs) demonstrates how dual training advances both young people and companies and is crucial for securing skilled labor in our country. 

It is true that support measures to help train young people with special needs are still too rarely used in companies. The IHKs are committed to ensuring that offers such as Assisted Training or mentoring programs like VerAplus are expanded and become better known. A particularly effective instrument for starting vocational training is company-funded entry-level qualification. Young people who are not yet fully prepared for traditional training get the opportunity to learn parts of a vocational profession, explore a company and professional life in four to twelve months. Afterward, many are already transitioned by their company into regular training.”

About the Study

 Corporate and youth survey (only available in German)