Training places - More new jobs in the metal and electrical industry
The number of training contracts in the Bavarian metal and electrical industry continues to rise at a high level. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable applicants, said association chairman Bertram Brossardt in Munich.
In 2024, companies recorded 15,530 new training contracts, an increase of 1.3 percent. For 2025, they expect 15,700 new training contracts. Almost a quarter of the companies are training more than required. "The number of open positions in companies is decreasing, but there are still significantly more positions than applicants," said Brossardt. "The tense economic situation and the shortage of applicants prevent even more contracts from being concluded."
Companies that reported fewer training contracts cited too few or unsuitable applicants as the main reason. The missing Abitur year due to the switch from G8 to G9 next year plays hardly any role: The vast majority of trainees come from middle, real, and economic schools.
The prospects for trainees to be taken on after their training are good: 92.5 percent of companies plan to take on their trainees in 2024 on a fixed-term or permanent basis. The industry associations vbm and bayme even expect a take-up rate of 97.7 percent for 2025. If no take-up occurs, this is usually at the request of the trainees, for example, because they want to study afterwards. The companies "are dependent on every single young talent in the Free State for their skilled workforce," said Brossardt. The collectively agreed monthly remuneration in the Bavarian metal and electrical industry ranges between 1,124 euros in the first and 1,312 euros in the last year of training.
Due to the high demand for apprenticeships in the Bavarian metal and electrical industry, companies are finding it challenging to find sufficient suitable applicants. This issue is contributing to the decrease in open positions, despite the increase in training contracts.
Given the scarcity of applicants, many companies in the Bavarian metal and electrical industry are training more apprentices than required, as they rely on every young talent for their skilled workforce.
