Increasing number of applicants: training positions in the Gießen district are dwindling!

Increasing number of applicants: training positions in the Gießen district are dwindling!

What's going on in Giessen? The apprenticeship landscape is currently anything but rosy. According to that Giessener Anzeiger The number of young people without a training place remains worryingly high despite an increase in the number of applicants. By the end of October 2025, 2,012 young people had applied for a training place, which represents an increase of 130 compared to the previous year.

But the chances of training seem bleak: as of the end of September 2025, 257 young people were unprovided for - 95 more than in the previous year. This means that not only the labor market but also training places come under pressure. Michael Beck, head of the Gießen employment agency, notes that the uncertainty on the labor market is clearly reflected in these figures. Employers are reporting fewer and fewer open training positions, while the number of young people looking for them continues to rise steeply.

A downward trend in training positions

Things couldn't be worse for the training positions themselves. The total number of training positions fell by 93 to 1,545, and that's not all: by the end of the reporting year, 121 training positions remained unfilled, 46 more than in the previous year. A total of 3,725 training positions have been reported to the Giessen employment agency in the entire district since September 2024, which is 298 fewer than in the previous year. Demographic factors play a decisive role here - the need for trained workers is increasing while the supply is decreasing.

Furthermore, the situation is not only local but also extends across the country. According to a report by the Federal Institute for Vocational Training In 2024, demand for training places was 4,200 higher at 557,100, while the supply of dual vocational training places fell by 1.2% to 556,100. 12.8% of the offer remained unfilled. The disappointment among young people who cannot find training is noticeable and is reflected in the increasing number of unprovided applicants.

Future prospects for neglected young people

Anyone who looks for solutions in this tense situation is clever. In Gießen, various follow-up placement campaigns were launched to give disadvantaged young people the chance to start training or attend secondary school. Even the option of a voluntary social year is being considered, which can bring benefits not only for the young people but also for society.

Particularly noteworthy is the opportunity to complete an entry-level qualification or an annual internship by August 2026. This could help those affected to acquire the necessary qualifications to later enter the job market or undertake training.

The situation on the training market is tense, but with commitment and creative solutions, both young people and employers can benefit. All we have to do is wait and see how the situation will develop in the coming months before the new training positions for 2026 are accepted in time.