Does Germany have too many students? – The world

Aleksandra Žil (25) Tosses the table once again, so it closes its laptop. He works in the staff service of Erlenbach, which produces expanded foam machining used in the packaging industry, car, buildings …

« I’ve known this company for many years. I’ve gained first work experience through seasonal jobs. And that’s why after graduation, I will not study, but I will study for a specific occupation, » she says.

In Erlenbah, she first completed her education for the industrial commercial, then qualified as a personnel recfectionessor, and then completed basic studies in the field of human resource management, extraordinary through remote studies.

« It was aware of the decision – against the university. After school, I was a lot of theory. I was finally practical to learn something. »

In her circle of friends, many set out on their studies. There was also misunderstanding because of her decision.

« There is some pressure in society to automatically enter the faculty after graduation. In my opinion, studies were overestimated, and vocational education underestimated, » Zil considers.

« The university was too disorganized. Many enroll something, and even after many semesters they don’t know what they want to deal with. In any case, I never regretted. »

Good salaries and in a dual system

Holger Benz is the director of the economic and industrial chamber in Koblenz and is in charge of professional education and training. The Alexander Gill was informed about him.

« Despite the difficult economic situation, there is still a great demand for vocational education in our region, » Benz explains. « Our goal is to address young people with the end of Gymnasium and we are interested in professional education, » he says and states that there are more than 130 occupations « in the offer ».

In the Province of Rhineland-Pfalc for three years in a row, there are several young people in the first year of vocational education than students at the first year of college.

« It is decisive that additional qualifications can be obtained after three-year education. The level of diplomas within higher vocational education corresponds to the level of bacelor or master studies at the University – often and when it comes to the amount of salary, » Benz points out.

Benz predicts that the struggle for professional work force will be further sharpened. « In the coming years, about 50,000 qualified workers will be missed in Rhineland-Palatia every year. He is similar to the trend and at the level of Germany. »

Reforms for a better image

Jonas Henry has accurate data on the German professional education market. At the Institute of Economic Research IFO in Munich, he is a professional advisor in charge of macroeconomics and surveys. He regularly sends questionnaires in personnel services across Germany.

« There is a will to enable young people to be professional training and education. According to our last research, it wants 85 percent of companies. But almost two-thirds – more precisely 61 percent – it has a problem finding candidates, » explains Henrich.

The pressure has become so strong that the vast majority of companies are due to the reform of vocational education.

« Companies want more modern professional schools and curricula. It is mainly that professional education gets a better image, » says researcher from IFO Institute. Thus, for example, teaching topics should be adapted to the requirements of the modern working world.

In addition, professional schools and companies that offer professional education must be closer to cooperating.

« That cooperation could contribute to bridging a gap between theory and practice, » Henry states. The smaller the company is, it’s harder to get to young people, he adds. « More than half small firms cannot find young people for training, » explains Henry. And vocational education plays a key role for the labor market stability, because they are young people on professional training the future of the German economy.

Professional workforce will be more than necessary

The Ahim Ders for decades analyzes the market of vocational education and work, as well as their mutual addiction. He is the Deputy Director of the German Industrial and Chamber of Commerce (DIHK) in Berlin.

« Demographic development is a huge challenge for our companies. Next year we will have only about 750,000 graduates, which is about 200,000 less than 20 years ago, » Dersk says.

In his opinion, too many young people after school goes to university.

« Earlier, dual education really had an advantage. In 1992, vocational education was initially more twice. The number of students in recent years is primarily explained by the fact that more and more students are gaining university storage, ie they have a graduation. »

And ahim derks, like Alexandra Gil, believes that many young people would be better for many young people.

« About every fourth student who enrolls basic studies in Germany, leaving a college without a degree. It is more than 100,000 young people, who would probably go much better to decide for dual education. »

On the pomota turn?

But DERKS currently observes the change in the trend. The percentage of gymnasiums among those who start professional training again grows.

« Last year, there were about 490,000 freshmen and about 487,000 beginners in professional education in companies. Therefore, the number of students in the dual system is almost equal. There are more than 150,000 young people who decide for health care, neologies and social occupations. »

However, according to Dihk, about 70,000 places for vocational education remained unfilled last year.

« Lack of qualified labor is not just a serious problem for companies, but also for economic development of the whole country, » Ders warns. « Precisely given Megatrends like digitization, artificial intelligence and climate policy, Germany is sent to a qualified, professional work force. »