An apprenticeship provides young people with access to secure and attractive employment. But that’s not all: they can often make a bigger difference in the workplace than they can at school. They can also help drive new developments in an increasingly digital and sustainable economy or contribute to a socially-oriented society – in which people need support: it is all possible in an apprenticeship.

This summer, young people’s chances of finding an apprenticeship continue to be good. Throughout Germany, there are far more vacant apprenticeships than people seeking an apprenticeship. Many companies are urgently seeking applicants so they can recruit skilled workers for the future. Even if the training year has already started, young people can continue to start an apprenticeship.

They can find out about the apprenticeships that are available in their local area and its environs from the career advisors at the job centres and careers advice centres for young people. A discussion of this kind is based on individual inclinations and talents, and often provides an important degree of impetus for applications.

The training vocations are developing further all the time: in the skilled trades, in IT, in the hotel and catering industry and in the medical professions, for example, changes are also taking place with a view to sustainability and digitalisation. On the occasion of International Youth Day, the Federal Employment Agency advises young people to arrange an individual careers advice discussion to help with their career orientation. The careers advisors can offer a neutral perspective on the future development of occupations and employment opportunities.

The website https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/k/ausbildungklarmachen leads to the digital “Check-U” tool which allows users to get an idea of their skills and interests, the apprenticeship search feature and the appointments feature for careers advice, whether in-person and on site or by video.