Kassel expert: Corona pandemic increases pressure to transform training market

To prevent the looming shortage of skilled workers in the future, he said, young people's opportunities would have to be promoted acyclically and over the long term. The "Arbeitsweltberichterstattung Hessen" project led by Schroeder had evaluated current data on the German training market in the Corona years 2020 and 2021. "In a year that was characterized by the elimination of trade fairs, internships and other offers to get to know in presence as well as only a limited vocational orientation, we must normalize the training market as quickly as possible and at the same time make it more sustainable," states Schroeder, head of the department "Political System of the FRG" at the University of Kassel.

"We must not only think about the current crisis management, but also create structures for a long-term transformation of the training market," Schroeder demands. The authors of the policy paper call for further measures to secure the training of skilled workers for the future, stabilize the current situation and develop it sustainably. The proposed instruments include, for example, additional measures for career guidance, assistance and support before and during training, and better cooperation between local labor market and social actors. Training guarantee models and bonuses for training seekers are also considered possible. In addition, companies as well as those interested in training should think about which occupations will be needed in the future or which business models will be the future. At present, however, this process is being slowed down. Schroeder therefore proposes a transformation agency dedicated to these considerations. This could reduce the risk of companies losing sight of their future skilled labor requirements due to the current situation of uncertainty.  

A quantitative analysis of various studies by different authors on the current German training market shows how drastic the Corona pandemic has been: In 2020, 57,555 fewer training positions were advertised by companies. This corresponds to a decline of nine percent. Fewer training contracts were also signed compared to the previous year (467,484, -11%). At the same time, however, there was an increase of around 13% in the number of unfilled training places, which shows that it is more difficult for training candidates and companies to find each other. Many young people also opted last year for alternatives such as university studies, secondary schools or taking advantage of support measures in the transition system. Many of them are now likely to aim for an apprenticeship with a one-year delay. "The 2021 training market is highly competitive," concludes the political scientist.

The authors of the policy paper also point out that the measures to curb the Corona virus will eliminate precisely those apprenticeships that are most helpful to those who are more difficult to place, such as in the hotel and restaurant sector. Here, the Hessian training market is also particularly affected, because the two economic sectors with the greatest decline in demand (hospitality and transport and warehousing) are disproportionately represented in this state. "It is already foreseeable that as a result of the Corona pandemic, existing inequalities in schooling will continue to grow. Lack of digital infrastructure, failure of practice opportunities and career guidance underpin this. That's why it's important that all stakeholders involved in education stand up to it with a joint effort, " Schroeder said.

The policy paper can be found here: https://www.uni-kassel.de/fb05/i3

More information on the "Arbeitsweltberichterstattung Hessen" can be found here: https://www.uni-kassel.de/fb05/fachgruppen-und-institute/politikwissenschaft/fachgebiete/politisches-system-der-brd-staatlichkeit-im-wandel/forschung/arbeitsweltberichterstattung-hessen

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schroeder 

University of Kassel 
Department of Social Sciences 
Chair: Political System of the Federal Republic/Statehood in Change 
Nora-Platiel-Str.1
34109 Kassel 
Tel.: 0561-804-3096 
E-Mail: wolfgang.schroeder@uni-kassel.de
 

Press contact:

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Communications, Press and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 561 804-1961
E-mail: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
www.uni-kassel.de