Instead of studying, go into training: more and more high school graduates are taking this route. According to critics, this is at the expense of secondary school graduates. Experts paint a more differentiated picture – but see a need for action.
Trying out architecture not just theoretically, but very practically: That was one of the reasons why Sidney Laven decided to start training as a carpenter after graduating from high school. He is now completing his second year of training at a timber construction company in Rheinhessen. It was the right decision, says the 23-year-old.
For him, working outside and with his hands are two big advantages over an office job. As a carpenter trainee, your mind is also challenged: “Geometric, spatial thinking is extremely important,” says the trainee. “It’s a lot of math.” However, in his final year at school, Sidney Laven’s decision to do an apprenticeship was rather unusual: “The majority ended up going to university.”
A new more social trend
But contrary to this supposedly classic career path – graduating from high school and then studying – Sidney Laven also follows a social trend. In recent years, the number of young people starting training after graduating from high school has increased significantly. According to current figures from the Federal Statistical Office, almost a third of prospective trainees had the right to attend a university or technical college in 2021 – almost seven percentage points more than ten years ago.
However, it cannot generally be concluded from this that training is becoming more and more attractive for high school graduates, say experts. “I tend to support the thesis of a statistical effect here,” says Friedrich Hubert Esser, President of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB). For years, the proportion of secondary school leavers has been declining sharply, while the proportion of those eligible to study has increased slightly.
Like many high school graduates, Sidney Laven started training after graduating.
More and more high school graduates in the trades
This effect is now reflected on the training market and in companies. Like Bernd Süssenberger, Sidney Laven’s boss. Of the four trainees, two have now graduated from high school, reports the master carpenter. This trend has increased in recent years. “We have always had high school graduates,” says Süssenberger. “But it was clear that they would go on to study afterwards.”
Things are different now: more high school graduates are staying true to the craft. This is also due to the fact that training and its requirements are changing – also for the negative; many things have become more complicated. “Today we have to work much more precisely because of the legal requirements,” says Süssenberger. High school graduates usually get to grips with the requirements quickly. But the company doesn’t rely on that alone; it needs all graduates from all types of schools, says the craftsman. In any case, many companies are desperately looking for young talent.
Experts don’t see any “displacement effect”
But it is becoming increasingly difficult, especially for secondary school students, to get a training place. This is the result of a study published at the beginning of the year on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation. However, the proportion of high school graduates who choose training instead of studying has increased significantly.
However, the BIBB does not see any “crowding out” effect on the training market. “There are careers that are of equal interest to both secondary school students and those entitled to study,” says BIBB President Esser. “As a rule, these two school-leaving groups do not compete for the same jobs.” For secondary school graduates, these are primarily skilled trades such as roofers or bakers; For high school graduates, for example, training in the commercial sector.
“The proportion of high school graduates is particularly high in theory-heavy professions in industry, banks and insurance companies,” says Markus Kiss, training expert at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). “In the media industry there are also a comparatively large number of trainees with university entrance qualifications.” This also applies to booksellers, event clerks or biology laboratory technicians.
Companies are committed to helping people Starting difficulties
Expert Kiss does not believe that it will be more difficult for young people with low school qualifications to find a training place. “In view of the falling number of applicants and thousands of unfilled training positions, companies are more committed than ever to their young talent – especially to young people who have difficulty getting started.” These included student internships or tutoring during training.
According to a current DIHK survey, 80 percent of companies offer such offers to support young people with starting difficulties or to get them into training. Kiss sees schools as having a particular responsibility: “It’s frightening that companies and various educational studies have found that the performance level of students in the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic has been declining for years. The companies can hardly repair this try as they might.”
Apprenticeships also depend on the economy
BIBB President Esser also sees “well-founded career orientation in general schools” as a crucial step towards integrating young people even better into the job market. According to Esser, whether companies and trainees actually find each other depends not least on the respective economic situation.
In an economic downturn, companies are critical about whether training should be provided at all, said the expert. In a high situation and at the same time a shortage of skilled workers, they are prepared to invest more in tutoring and other measures to improve the suitability of applicants.
For Sidney Laven, the transition from school to training went smoothly. He wants to complete his training and what will happen next, he cannot yet say conclusively. Studying architecture remains interesting for him – after obtaining his master’s certificate.