Germany’s apprenticeship market is facing an unprecedented stalemate. According to the latest DIHK (Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce) survey for 2026, 49 percent of companies failed to fill all their available apprenticeship positions last year — a figure that has remained at a record high since 2023.
The mismatch between supply and demand is widening. While 29 percent of surveyed businesses plan to offer fewer apprenticeships in 2025 than they did in 2024 — a three-percentage-point rise — only 13 percent have expanded their offerings. The majority, 58 percent, are keeping numbers steady.
Economic headwinds force cutbacks
The primary culprit is Germany’s sluggish economy. Among companies with negative business outlooks, one in two is
The pain is unevenly distributed across sectors. Industry leads with 59 percent of apprenticeship slots unfilled, followed by transport (55 percent), construction and retail (53 percent each). Regional disparities are equally stark: in Lower Saxony, only 53 percent of companies managed to fill all positions, according to a separate IHK survey.
Basic skills gap stymies recruitment
Employers increasingly struggle to find candidates who meet their requirements. Roughly half of all companies report deficiencies in school-leavers’ work ethic and social behaviour. Another 40 percent identify significant gaps in mathematics, German language skills and basic economic knowledge.
Despite these frustrations, businesses are investing heavily in remediation. Three out of four companies that identify qualification deficits now fund tutoring or support programmes for their apprentices. The strategy appears to pay off: 66 percent of firms hire all their graduates, and a further 14 percent take on at least three-quarters of them.
Calls for reform from both sides
DIHK Chief Executive Helena Melnikov is urging policymakers to elevate vocational training as a national priority. “We need structural reforms to make apprenticeships more attractive and address the underlying issues,” she said.
Labour representatives are equally vocal. DGB Deputy Chair Elke Hannack warned in late July against cuts to vocational training funding. Her figures paint a stark picture: in 2025, 729,000 young people expressed interest in apprenticeships, yet only 476,000 new contracts were signed. Nationwide, roughly 2.7 million people aged 20 to 34 lack any vocational qualification. Hannack is calling for an expanded training guarantee and a levy-based financing model similar to those already operating in Bremen and Berlin.
Housing emerges as unexpected barrier
For the first time, the DIHK survey identifies affordable housing as a major obstacle. Two-thirds of companies see urgent need for political action in this area. Seven percent report that candidates have withdrawn applications specifically because of long commutes or a lack of accommodation.
One potential solution gaining traction: around half of all businesses are now open to training young people from non-EU countries.
