Training start in 2025: Many places in MV remain unfilled!

Training start in 2025: Many places in MV remain unfilled!

Today, September 1, 2025, a new training year begins for thousands of apprentices in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. However, the number of unfilled apprenticeships is alarming. There is an acute shortage, particularly in retail and in the hotel and catering industry, where over 400 apprenticeships remain unfilled. This discrepancy stands in contrast to the high demand for training places in technical professions such as automotive, metal and electrical engineering as well as in the traffic and transport industry. Many school leavers prefer professional work to traditional training, as an analysis by the Bertelsmann Foundation shows, which already affects one in five students. NDR reports that employer president Lars Schwarz sees the increased salaries that some companies now offer for trainees as one of the reasons for this trend.

In the skilled trades, however, there are bright spots: 1,790 young people have signed an apprenticeship contract - 133 more than in the previous year. Nevertheless, around 620 training positions in the skilled trades remain unfilled. Occupations such as system mechanics for plumbing, heating and air conditioning technology are particularly in demand. In order to promote the current training market, the internship bonus was introduced, which is already having a positive effect. Almost one in five interns found a training contract. This initiative will now be supported by the state government for a further two years in order to further increase the number of people interested in training.

Financial framework conditions

Another aspect that influences the training landscape is the current minimum training allowance, which has been set for 2025. According to the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) The minimum training allowance is 682 euros in the first year of training, 805 euros in the second, 921 euros in the third and 955 euros in the fourth. Training companies that are bound by collective agreements are obliged to pay at least the remuneration agreed in the collective agreement, which means that in many cases the reality can be significantly higher than these rates. Interestingly, an analysis shows that only 3-4% of training contracts stipulate the minimum training remuneration, although the proportion is higher in some sectors.

• 1. Ausbildungsjahr: 682 Euro
• 2. Ausbildungsjahr: 805 Euro
• 3. Ausbildungsjahr: 921 Euro
• 4. Ausbildungsjahr: 955 Euro

In addition, the regulations surrounding internships must be observed. Interns aged 18 and over may be entitled to the minimum wage, especially if the internship lasts longer than three months. In contrast, people under 18 without a professional qualification are not entitled to a minimum wage. Details are on the website BMAS to find.

A look into the future

The idea that school leavers are increasingly choosing employment over training could have a major impact on the training market. The introduction of a practical learning day for the new school year will improve students' career choice orientation. While the state government's efforts to find modern training methods and incentives will continue, there remains uncertainty as to whether this will be enough to finally fill the unfilled training places. Managing directors and trainers are called upon to inspire young people for important careers with attractive offers and targeted support.