Multitudes of training slots remain available in Brandenburg

Multitudes of training slots remain available in Brandenburg

In the heart of Brandenburg, Germany, the Industry and Commerce Chamber (IHK) in Cottbus has recorded a slight increase in new contracts, with around 890 new contracts reported, surpassing the previous year's figure. However, a pressing issue remains unaddressed - the shortage of training positions (Ausbildungsplätze) in the region.

This shortage is a part of a broader labor market challenge affecting Brandenburg, driven by demographic changes and economic factors. The aging population, low unemployment, and complex immigration processes are key reasons behind the shortage, particularly affecting industries such as logistics, hospitality, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing.

Germany, including Brandenburg, faces an aging population with a significant share of workers over 65, reducing the workforce pool and increasing demand for qualified trainees. The region's low unemployment rate means fewer young people are entering training, while many industries face rising demand for skilled workers across sectors. Complicated immigration bureaucracy and slow digitalization particularly challenge the recruitment of foreign trainees.

The logistics sector, being a €200 billion sector in Germany, faces significant training shortages due to strong demand for warehouse workers. The hospitality industry and retail sectors, requiring many trainees, currently experience shortages of skilled helpers and sales associates. Seasonal agricultural labor also struggles to find trainees due to the physically demanding nature of the jobs and demographic shifts. Laborers and helpers in construction face shortages affecting site support and development projects, while Brandenburg's industries such as automotive and manufacturing, including high-profile sites like the Tesla Gigafactory, also need trained personnel, but training slots are limited compared to demand.

In addition to these sectors, animal husbandry, care professions, and agriculture sectors in Berlin and Brandenburg have also been identified as problem areas. As of the end of June 2023, around 6,200 training positions in Brandenburg remain unfilled. Despite the decline in reported positions, the number of applications received in the career guidance year 2023-2024 has increased by 80, totaling nearly 11,100 applications since October 2024.

The president of the IHK Cottbus has urged young people to secure their apprenticeship or internship in the region, as companies need skilled workers and offer a good start to their professional future. Many young people are unaware of the diverse prospects that vocational training can offer, including international stays and additional qualifications. The most popular training position, based on the number of applications, is for automotive mechatronics.

The trend of fewer training positions is not limited to Brandenburg but affects the entire federal territory, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor. The career guidance year starts in October 2024, and as of now, approximately 5,700 applicants are still without a position. Care remains a known problem area in the statistic of professions affected by the shortage of skilled workers.

It is crucial for young people to be aware of the opportunities available in vocational training and to consider securing their positions early to help alleviate the skilled worker shortage in Brandenburg and beyond.

1. The shortage of training positions in Brandenburg's labor market, as reported by the Industry and Commerce Chamber (IHK) in Cottbus, is a pressing issue that affects various sectors such as logistics, hospitality, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, animal husbandry, care professions, and agriculture.
2. The career guidance year 2023-2024 has seen an increase of 80 in the number of applications, totaling nearly 11,100, but around 6,200 training positions in Brandenburg remain unfilled as of the end of June 2023.
3. The president of the IHK Cottbus has emphasized the need for young people to secure their apprenticeship or internship in the region, as companies are seeking skilled workers and can provide a good start to their professional future.
4. Policy and legislation, including education-and-self-development and career-development policies, as well as general news, should focus on raising awareness of the opportunities available in vocational training and the importance of securing positions early to help alleviate the skilled worker shortage in Brandenburg and beyond.

Read also: