The motto of this year’s campaign week from 14th to 18th March 2022 is “Give more training a go!” The opportunities for securing a traineeship are good. The number of training positions reported by businesses to job centres from October 2021 until February 2022 has increased significantly in comparison with the previous year. Overall, businesses reported 30,000 more training positions than a year ago. At the same time, the number of applicants fell by 10,000 to 284,000. For businesses, filling training positions is increasingly challenging.

Before the backdrop of this development on the market for training positions, during Training Week, young people and their parents can learn all about the advantages that training offers. Job centres and careers advice centres for young people highlight the wide range of training opportunities: careers advisors provide information in personal discussions, by telephone, by video or at events about jobs and training requirements, about the different options for obtaining a recognised vocational qualification, and respond to questions about training, applications and internships. Offerings such as “speed dating” between young people and employers, events in the area of sport and leisure as well as trade shows are included in the programme at the various job centres and careers advice centres for young people.

As part of the campaign week, the service for employers at the job centres will tell people who are responsible for training in businesses about how they can use in-company training to secure the skilled staff they will require tomorrow, how they can present themselves as an attractive training business to young people, and which recruitment channels are the best for attracting trainees. Funding opportunities will also be presented which contribute to stabilising training relationships and successfully enable trainees to gain vocational qualifications.

Detlef Scheele, Executive Chairman of the Federal Employment Agency: “The events during the Training Week are the starting shot for the “busiest period” of applications. This year, businesses are showing a considerable willingness to train young people and give them the tools for the job. The supply of training positions nationwide has recovered in time for the spring. Many businesses are expecting the economy to pick up speed in the course of the year; they also have to prevent shortages of skilled staff. It is important that young people seize the opportunities which are on offer and that they can gain insights into businesses through internships. Our career advisors at the job centres and careers advice centres for young people will support them throughout every phase, including during their training and after it.”

Anja Piel, Board Member of the German Trade Union Confederation and Chair of the Administrative Board of the Federal Employment Agency: “After two years of pandemic, it is important for the network partners in the market for training positions to support young people in their search for a suitable traineeships, so that they can make a successful start to their working life. With assisted training and/or the vocational training allowance, they can get targeted support if needed. This benefits both young people and employers alike. So far, too many people fail to complete their traineeship. The reasons for this also need to be addressed. There is also an urgent need to increase the number of traineeships in some regions to ensure sufficient supply of staff there.”

Christina Ramb, member of the executive team of the Federal Association of German Employers' Associations and Deputy Chair of the Administrative Board of the Federal Employment Agency: “Businesses are in urgent need of skilled young members of staff. While the effects of the pandemic are thankfully receding, the shortage of skilled workers is intensifying. This is a long-term challenge in the labour market. Structural change also requires businesses to invest more in education and training. Employers aren’t just interested in hiring school leavers, they are also in young adults who are looking for a second chance; the “Zukunftsstarter” (Future Starter) initiative, for example, offers opportunities for people aged between 25 and 35. If they complete a course of vocational training, young people have excellent prospects for the future!”

Many of the offers for Training Week are also listed on the local websites of the job centres and careers advice centres for young people.