Increasing number of applicants, but fewer apprenticeships: what now?

Increasing number of applicants, but fewer apprenticeships: what now?

In April 2025, current data from the Federal Employment Agency show a gratifying increase in the number of applicants for training positions. By the end of March, around 850 interested parties reported to the career counseling, which corresponds to an increase of 190 people compared to the previous year. Despite this positive development, the Situation remains tense on the training market.

While some applicants have already found an apprenticeship, around 540 are still looking for it. A central problem is the decline in the training positions offered: Fewer companies report vacancies this year. There are now 159 applicants in the region on 100 apprenticeships. This shows that demand is particularly high in the area of ​​office management and commercial professions, but also high demand in the area of ​​automotive mechatronics. A particularly large number of training positions are available in sales, but here demand is lower than the offer, which leads to an inadequate line -up.

economic uncertainties and their consequences

The employment agency attributes the decline in training positions to economic uncertainties that affect the offer. According to the Bildung.de statistics, the number of newly completed training contracts fell by 0.5 % compared to the previous year, which led to a total of 486,700 new contracts. In addition, as of September 30, 2024, 69,400 apprenticeships remained vacant nationwide, which corresponds to 12.8 % of the desired training offer.

Particularly affected are craftsmanship and technical professions, where the unoccupied areas sometimes achieve alarming values: concrete and reinforced concrete builders, for example, have an anticipation rate of 44.4 %, followed by plumps and meats with 43.0 % or 40.7 %.

regional differences and career choice

The biggest challenges remain the regional differences in the offer of demand and demand. While there is a high training offer in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Bremen and Lower Saxony suffer from a lack of training positions. The location is particularly tense here, which leads to a high number of unsuccessful applications. In Berlin, for example, 22.9 % of the training position seekers remained unsuccessful, which represents an increase of 10.5 % compared to the previous year.

The most popular apprenticeships were in 2024 motor vehicle mechatronics engineers, merchants for office management and sellers. Gender -specific differences in the career choice continue to exist and are reflected in the statistics.

Although the demand for training positions is growing, the 2024 training market shows a stable but challenging situation. The challenges include the need for more information about career opportunities and financial incentives for parades. Flexible forms of training, such as part -time training positions or digital training formats, could also contribute to increasing the training of the training market.

Overall, the situation remains tense on the training market, with increasing demand and a limited supply. The assessments of the Federal Employment Agency and the Bildung.de indicate urgency to find solutions in order to close the gap between the number of applicants and the training positions offered. The Bildung.de continues to emphasize that the challenges in this market also show an increase in vacant training positions that do not meet the needs of young people and the industry.

The bpb.de pointed out that the statistics of the Federal Employment Agency of the Federal Employment Agency also pointed out the entire reality. For example, young people who are considered not to be approved or do not report to the career counseling are not recorded in these figures. It is therefore essential to create perspectives to make the training market future -proof.

summarized that the training market 2024 shows signs of recovery in demand, but the offer remains limited and regional -specific differences are a challenge. Coordinated action is required to overcome the gap between supply and demand.