Internship bonus in MV: Future uncertain – where are the young talent?

Internship bonus in MV: Future uncertain – where are the young talent?

The future of the internship bonus in the skilled trades is in jeopardy. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, young people can apply for a bonus of 120 euros per week for an internship in craft businesses. This initiative, which was launched last summer, is funded with 220,000 euros and is intended to secure the urgently needed young talent in the trades. But the country's current budget situation raises questions. How long can this supportive program last? NDR reports that the MV Taxpayers' Association is calling for the program to be discontinued because the benefits are considered to be low and the administrative burden is considered to be high.

The shortage of skilled workers is particularly alarming, with an annual average of over 14,600 qualified workers missing in the industry in 2024. Over 47 percent of open positions could not be filled. This means that at the start of training in 2024, 3,500 apprenticeship positions were still unfilled in MV, while 2,100 young people are looking for a training position. The Chambers of Crafts in MV are currently advertising internship opportunities, especially before the summer holidays, in order to improve the situation.

The principle of the internship bonus

Students aged 15 and over can choose a craft training company and conclude an internship contract, which must be submitted to the Chamber of Crafts one week before the internship begins. After completing the internship, a time sheet and an evaluation form are required in order to receive the bonus. The internships can last between one and three weeks and are an attractive opportunity to gain initial practical experience in the trade.

Interest in such initiatives is growing nationwide. In Saxony-Anhalt, for example, a similar internship bonus was introduced in the summer of 2020. This is intended to motivate young people to get to know skilled trades better. From 2020 to 2024, around 2,500 students have already completed internships, and the bonus has proven to be a successful model for recruiting trainees. Craft paper reports that most internships lead to training contracts in your own internship company.

The nationwide challenge

The situation in the craft sector is not only vulnerable locally - craft sectors nationwide are also struggling with a decline in internships, especially since the Corona pandemic. Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung highlights that the connection between internships and successful professional training is essential. The need for skilled workers is growing, while the number of training contracts concluded in 2022 fell short of pre-pandemic levels.

In other federal states, the introduction of internship bonuses is also being considered. However, the barriers appear to be high between Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Berlin, which is why programs have already been implemented in only a few regions. In many cases, the approval process for applications remains transparent and simple.

In summary, the internship bonus is a promising but fragile instrument to promote young people's personal responsibility in their career choices and to counteract the acute shortage of skilled workers. It remains to be hoped that political decision-makers will find a healthy middle ground in order to improve the implementation conditions and not to lose sight of the explosive nature of recruiting skilled workers.