Red alert: training places in the Main-Kinzig district have fallen sharply!

Red alert: training places in the Main-Kinzig district have fallen sharply!

The training landscape in the Main-Kinzig district is becoming increasingly complex. Heike Hengster, chairwoman of the Hanau Employment Agency, warns of a worrying trend: The forecast for 2024/2025 shows that young people will find it increasingly difficult to find suitable training places. This year there are 2,313 young women and men interested in training, an increase of 271 compared to last year. But while the number of interested people grows, the available training positions decrease. Companies only report 2,001 places - a decrease of 200 compared to the previous year, leaving 139 training places unfilled.

This development could have serious consequences for the future of young people in the district. Large companies are becoming increasingly reluctant to provide new training positions, while interest in nursing or food trade careers is declining, especially in popular professions such as IT specialist or office management clerk. There are also mobility problems in rural areas, which make access to training places even more difficult.

A new reality in the training market

The change in the training market cannot be overlooked. Miriam Fuchs from the IHK emphasizes that companies are required to actively approach applicants. The applicant profile has changed: more and more dropouts and career changers are finding their way to vocational schools. This could represent an opportunity for many people looking for a new career path. The Main-Kinzig clinics in particular have recognized this and are offering part-time training that is intended for people with special challenges. This training will be extended by one year, but this should not lead to a loss of quality.

There is also positive news from the district craftsmen's community. Anett Kuykendall highlights the valuable soft skills that part-time trainees bring with them. An example is a 26-year-old who continued her hairdressing training part-time after becoming pregnant. The craft company Elektro Knaak even reports success in supporting its trainees, which shows that, despite the challenges on the training market, there are also opportunities and opportunities to enter professional life.

The numbers at a glance

Last year's training statistics illustrate the trends: Over 690,000 people started vocational training in Germany in 2023. For comparison: around 486,000 of them decided to study. In total, trainees could choose from 328 different professions, and the number of newly concluded training contracts was around 489,000. However, over 73,000 training positions remained unfilled in 2023. This shows that the ratio of training places on offer to applicants has been working to the detriment of young people for years, with an oversupply of places for those less interested. The main reason why places are not filled is often unsuitable applications, as the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) reports.

The most popular training occupation in 2023 was office management clerk, followed by careers in the areas of motor vehicles and IT specialists. People without a university entrance qualification often choose to train as automotive mechatronics technicians. Most training places were awarded in industry and commerce, with the majority of trainees working in medium-sized or large companies.

Finally, it should be noted that even if the training market is facing challenges, there are still opportunities that make it valuable for young people to actively search for suitable training places. Both employers and applicants should do their part to improve the situation.