Opportunities for pupils from lower secondary schools to find an apprenticeship – securing a last minute apprenticeship position

Pupils from lower secondary schools face particular challenges in securing an apprenticeship position. They have to compete with school leavers who have higher-regarded school leaving certificates.  But it isn’t too late: young people seeking an apprenticeship position can still find one.

23 Aug 2024 | Press release no.35

Of school leavers from all secondary school forms in Germany, those from lower secondary schools (Hauptschule) are the biggest users of the apprenticeship placement scheme: although they only make up 16 percent of all school leavers, they account for some 30 percent of all registered applicants. At the same time, however, only around 60 percent of apprenticeship positions are open to applications to pupils with a leaving certificate from a lower secondary school. For pupils with a leaving certificate from an intermediate secondary school (Realschule), the figure is 93 percent, while those with the grammar-school level Abitur qualification are theoretically able to apply for any apprenticeship position. Although there are no general formal requirements regarding compulsory school-leaving certificates for apprenticeship occupations, training companies and organisations are allowed to specify minimum requirements.

Regional differences in the opportunities for an apprenticeship

The opportunities to secure an apprenticeship position vary from region to region. Thuringia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg currently have the highest number of unfilled apprenticeship positions in relation to unplaced applicants – and therefore the best opportunities for pupils from lower secondary schools.

Flexibility in the choice of career

There are still apprenticeship positions currently available in a variety of occupations. The majority of the currently available apprenticeship positions, which are frequently filled by young people with a leaving certificate from a lower secondary school, are in the following roles: retail salesperson, sales assistant, warehouse logistics specialist and dental and medical assistant.

Areas in which employers are currently experiencing difficulties in filling vacancies – which means good opportunities for applicants – include the food industry, construction, sales, catering and food service, transport and logistics as well as in many of the skilled trades (e.g. metalworking, heating technology) – the proportion of unfilled apprenticeship positions in these roles was recently very high.

Making use of the available opportunities

Decent opportunities for finding an apprenticeship position are still available.  And it isn’t too late to start an apprenticeship this year. The late placement initiatives offered by the federal employment agencies and Jobcenters provide opportunities for finding an apprenticeship by the end of the year. Training companies and organisations seeking apprentices can and should contact their federal employment agency and give young people with a lower secondary school leaving certificate a chance.

Making use of the available support

Every young person seeking an apprenticeship is a potential skilled worker of tomorrow. And that’s another important reason why no young person should be allowed to fall by the wayside. When it comes to vocational training and apprenticeships, the federal employment agencies und Jobcenters therefore provide support to both the apprentices themselves and the training companies and organisations. In this context, options such as Assisted Apprenticeships, completing an Entry-Level Vocational Qualification, the Mobility Grant and Vocational Training Grant are all available.