DIHK Position Paper: Making Vocational Education a Priority Now

The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) calls for placing greater emphasis on vocational education and training as a top economic policy priority. In a recent position paper, it presents specific proposals on how to secure skilled workers, improve transitions into apprenticeships, and reduce burdens on companies.

Helena Melnikov sitzt an einem Tisch und gestikuliert — Helena Melnikov

"Vocational education and training is central to the stability and capacity for renewal of our country," says DIHK Chief Executive Officer Helena Melnikov. "It secures skilled workers, enables transformation and creates opportunities for advancement. When the shortage of qualified skilled workers increases while many young people remain without professional qualifications, this becomes not only an educational but also an economic policy issue."

While the shortage of skilled workers is expected to worsen in the long term, the number of young people without vocational training is already alarmingly high.

Five Key Approaches

The DIHK proposes five specific approaches to strengthen vocational education: These include early and practical career guidance before entering the workforce, targeted preparatory measures during school years, and improved support at the start of apprenticeships – for example, with mobility and housing assistance. Other important approaches are better language training, faster adoption of digitalisation and AI in vocational training and education, greater flexibility through streamlined pathways to a professional qualification, and increased visibility of advanced vocational training as a crucial component of securing skilled labour.

"The five approaches in our paper address precisely the points where companies today are being slowed down by a lack of skilled workers, excessive workloads, and bureaucratic obstacles. They translate operational realities into concrete political action demands," Melnikov emphasises. For many companies, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable trainees, even though they are already making significant contributions. They invest in training and qualification and promote the development of the next generation of skilled workers, even in challenging economic conditions.

Prerequisite for Skilled Workers and Competitiveness

"This commitment is a central pillar of our economic and social system. Without strong vocational education, there will be neither enough skilled workers nor sustainable competitiveness. This requires better framework conditions, which the federal and state governments must implement," Melnikov stresses.

The DIHK calls on policymakers to implement the proposed approaches in collaboration with federal states. Vocational education and training is a key issue for Germany's economic competitiveness.