Search for a training position in the Mettmann district: More applicants, fewer opportunities!

Search for a training position in the Mettmann district: More applicants, fewer opportunities!

The search for training places for this year faces an uncertain future: the new training period begins for many companies on August 1st, and while the employment agency registers an increase in applications, the other side of the coin is apparent - the number of training places on offer is declining. There are currently 2,455 young adults looking for a suitable training position, which corresponds to an increase of 8.5 percent compared to the previous year. At the same time, the number of vacancies in the Mettmann district fell from 2,207 in the 2022/23 training year to just 1,851. This is a reduction of 2.5 percent over the same period, as reported by [RP Online].

A similar picture emerges throughout Germany. In 2023, over 690,000 people began vocational training and around 489,000 new training contracts were concluded. Nevertheless, more than 73,000 offers remained unfilled, which indicates necessary improvements in the application process. According to the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), the main reason for these unfilled positions is unsuitable applications. Craft occupations are particularly affected, with the highest proportions of unfilled positions in the areas of plumbing and construction, as Statista shows.

Different challenges on the training market

The situation on the training market is further complicated by regional differences. While urban centers often have more applicants than positions, rural areas struggle to find new talent. This discrepancy is reinforced by the lack of match between the applicants' qualifications and the requirements of the job offers, as Bildung.de notes. In Berlin, for example, 22.9 percent of applicants were unable to find a training place, while those reporting need in Bavaria reported an oversupply - compensation seems to be urgently necessary.

There is also a trend that positions remain unfilled more often, particularly in craft and technical professions. The number of unfilled positions in professions such as concrete construction was up to 44.4 percent, and plumbing was as high as 43 percent. For the 2023/24 training years, which are about to begin, planning is necessary that addresses such imbalances in training.

The search for suitable training positions

Career choices among young people continue to show gender-specific differences: While women often choose commercial careers or medical specialties, men are more interested in technical careers, especially in the automotive industry. In 2024, the professions of automotive mechatronics engineer and office management clerk will be the most frequently chosen training positions. 

In order to further improve the situation and get more young people into careers, it is necessary to increase the attractiveness of skilled trades and make offers more flexible. Financial incentives for training relocations or digital forms of training could contribute to this. It remains to be hoped that the right impulses will be given to support both the applicants and the training companies and to make the 2024 training year more successful.