Training in decline: 1,227 contracts in the Rhine district of Neuss in 2024!

Training in decline: 1,227 contracts in the Rhine district of Neuss in 2024!

In the Rhine district of Neuss, 1,227 new training contracts were concluded last year, which impressively underlines the relevance of dual training for securing skilled workers in the region. IHK managing director Jürgen Steinmetz and IHK managing director Daniela Perner presented these figures in a current education report, which mark a decrease of 4.4 percent compared to the previous year, but at the same time reflect the great commitment of regional training companies. In total, the entire IHK district reported 3,744 new training contracts, which shows that, despite challenges such as those faced in the catering industry, training positions are still very popular. Local click reports that around 2,623 training companies are now active in the chamber district.

A closer look at the age distribution of the new trainees reveals that 669 of the newcomers were 19 years old, 571 were even 24 years old and older. Only 158 were at the tender age of 16. However, a look at the gender distribution reveals that only 9.5 percent of trainees in the commercial and technical sector were female. This is a clear call to create more diversity here. Commercial professions, on the other hand, are more popular with 5,616 registered contracts and show that dual training offers valuable perspectives for young people with a wide range of school qualifications, as does the bpb determines.

Challenges and opportunities

The declining numbers of school leavers in the region, which fell by 5.8 percent between 2017 and 2024, give hope for an imminent change. The Abitur cohort will be more strongly represented due to the upcoming switch from G8 to G9, which could have a positive impact on the number of training opportunities. IHK managing director Perner emphasizes how important it is to prepare young people for the transition into the world of work at an early stage.

The need for suitable trainees is also evident in the catering sector. The Restaurant and Hotel Stappen in Korschenbroich has been exhibiting since 1999 and has responded to the difficulties in recruiting suitable staff by also training young people from non-European countries. The IHK initiatives such as training ambassadors and trainee speed dating support this by building a bridge between young people and companies.

International perspectives

In international comparison, Germany is considered a model for dual vocational training. An OECD report shows that practical elements can significantly improve labor market outcomes. While many countries either pursue purely school systems or completely different approaches, the German system offers a combination of theory and practice, such as bpb describes.

Nevertheless, there is also room for improvement, particularly in terms of earning potential compared to academic degrees. The Christmas season brings more and more training places and with over 230 training occupations, the question arises as to how the attractiveness of dual training can be further increased. Career orientation initiatives should urgently be expanded in order to explain to young people the advantages of practical training and to close the large discrepancy between the theoretical offerings and the practical needs in companies.

In conclusion, it can be said that despite certain challenges, dual training in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss and beyond represents a solid basis for professional development. The interactive exchange between companies, schools and political decision-makers will be crucial in order to ensure the supply of skilled workers in the future.