Rising Youth Interest in Apprenticeships Meets Employer Challenges Amid Labor Shortage in Germany 2024/2025

The 2024/2025 apprenticeship year in the Stormarn and Herzogtum Lauenburg regions of Germany has seen a notable increase in youth interest, reaching levels close to those before the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, companies continue to struggle with securing apprentices, reflecting broader workforce shortages in the country.

According to the regional training alliance, a total of 2,407 training positions were available, marking a 0.5% increase from the previous year. In Stormarn, training positions increased by 3.8% to 1,398, while Herzogtum Lauenburg saw a slight decline to 1,009. Applicants grew substantially by 16.3%, reaching 1,953, with a remarkable 34% rise to 518 applicants with a migration background, including 317 refugees. These figures highlight growing diversity among potential trainees.

Kathleen Wieczorek, head of the Bad Oldesloe Employment Agency, remarked on the optimism surrounding dual vocational training, emphasizing its advantages for job security and career growth. However, she noted that language barriers pose significant challenges for many applicants, recommending supportive measures like long-term internships and assisted training to enhance integration and success.

Despite these positive trends in youth engagement, companies face recruitment difficulties beyond apprenticeship schemes. An unpublished study by the Kompetenzzentrum Fachkräftesicherung at the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft revealed that nearly 15% of German companies experienced instances in summer 2024 where newly hired employees signed contracts but did not show up for work, a phenomenon known as “ghosting.” This trend underscores the acute skilled labor shortage affecting the German labor market.

Local vocational schools and the regional training alliance stress the importance of professional education with focused language support to better prepare young people, especially those with insufficient German skills, for successful apprenticeships. While the Stormarn Chamber of Crafts reported relatively stable training levels, Herzogtum Lauenburg experienced a decline in new contracts, and the IHK Lübeck noted persistent demand for skilled workers despite a slight drop in new apprenticeship agreements.

Overall, the 2024/2025 apprenticeship landscape in Germany reflects increased interest and diversity among youth candidates but also significant challenges for companies to secure and retain skilled trainees, within the context of a nationwide skilled labor shortage impacting both recruitment and employment retention.