Mülheim: Training positions at risk – only 67 applicants for 100 positions!

Mülheim: Training positions at risk – only 67 applicants for 100 positions!

There is currently a pressing problem in Mülheim an der Ruhr: While 100 training places are desperately waiting for potential trainees, only 67 young people have applied. This alarming situation raises questions and highlights the challenges that companies and training companies have to contend with. According to the WAZ, the economy is reporting concerns about the shortage of skilled workers and rising energy costs. The last few years seem to have left their mark here.

To better understand the scale of the problem, it is worth taking a look back. Five years ago there were 145 applicants who applied for 100 training positions. However, compared to the neighboring cities of Essen, Oberhausen and Duisburg, the situation in Mülheim still looks comparatively good. By the end of September 2023, around 10% of the total 1,054 training positions were unfilled, which means a decrease of 11 unfilled positions compared to the previous year.

The numbers speak volumes

The Mülheim Employment Agency reported 1,038 company training positions in the training year, which represents a decrease of 10 positions compared to the previous year. There are also 16 non-company positions, bringing the total to 1,054. Interestingly, the most vacancies were in the sales profession, followed by retail clerk and medical assistant. On the other hand, technical training appears to be no longer as inspiring, as there has been a decline of 15%.

A total of 904 young people had contacted careers advice by the end of September, which corresponds to a decrease of 80 people. Of these, 67 were considered uncared for, which is 14 fewer than in the previous year. The agency's balance sheet has made it abundantly clear that there is a need for action. According to Jürgen Koch, chairman of the management board of the employment agency, it is crucial that internships to experience professional fields are promoted. This advice is confirmed by Oliver Vrabec, the head of the job center, who reports on over 200 young people who were able to start training.

The role of schools and companies

The schools in Mülheim, especially the vocational colleges, rely on practical training and digital learning methods. The Kluse vocational college and the Stadtmitte vocational college have specialized in expanding media equipment and cooperating with renowned institutions such as the Max Planck Institute. The Lehnerstrasse vocational college has also reformed its teaching, relies on digital methods and is involved in social and sustainability projects.

The training companies themselves are under pressure. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has found that although there are 551 new training contracts in Mülheim (an increase of 1% compared to the previous year), most companies complain about the decline in applicants instead of taking action themselves. The DGB is also critical of this, noting that only 20% of companies even provide training. The discrepancy between the unsecured young people and the unfilled training places illustrates a glaring disproportion.

In order to enable young people to enter the professional world, it is essential to create incentives and opportunities. Young people have the opportunity to start vocational training until February 2024. The dialogue between companies and school graduates must be intensified; After all, the key to solving this problem is collaboration.

For further information on career advice and possible internships, those interested can visit this page access.