Bonus for internships - Introducing Youths to the Art of Craftsmanship
The Schleswig-Holstein state government plans to award a stipend to students who complete apprenticeships in the craft industry. There's currently a deficit of more than 10,000 skilled workers in this sector in the north, according to the Kiel Economic Ministry. Additionally, there are over 2,500 unfilled apprenticeship positions.
Economic State Secretary Julia Carstens (CDU) revealed that students who complete an apprenticeship in a craft business during their breaks can receive a weekly stipend of 120 Euros. The government plans to allocate a total of 80,000 Euros for this program.
To be eligible for the apprenticeship premium, students must be at least 15 years old and attend a school in Schleswig-Holstein. The primary purpose of the premium is to cover travel and accommodation costs during the apprenticeship. Claims can be made starting from the summer holidays, according to Carstens. A maximum of two apprenticeship weeks per student and year will be financed.
"We can only fill the significant shortage of skilled workers in the craft industry if we encourage more young people to undergo training and show them the diverse opportunities in this field," stressed Ralf Stamer, President of the Chamber of Crafts Schleswig-Holstein. Over a quarter of the nearly 33,000 craft businesses in the northernmost federal state offer apprenticeships.
