German vocational training contracts and BAföG funding decline in 2025

In 2025 the number of newly concluded dual‑training contracts in Germany fell by 2.8 % to 461,900, a drop of 13,100 contracts compared with the previous year, according to the Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis). The decline was driven by a 6 % reduction in contracts for German nationals (‑25,600) while contracts for trainees without German citizenship rose by 18 % (‑12,400), with especially strong increases among Ukrainian (+64 %) and Vietnamese (+36 %) applicants. At year‑end 1,211,800 people were enrolled in dual training, the majority in industry and trade (56 %).

At the same time, the number of recipients of the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG) fell to 570,000 in 2025 – a 7 % decrease and the lowest level since 2000. The drop was most pronounced among students, whose numbers fell by 40,700 (‑8 %), while the number of school‑age recipients fell only slightly. Average monthly BAföG payments rose to €682 for students and €552 for pupils. The federal government has announced a reform to increase the housing allowance and eventually raise the basic BAföG rate, but implementation has been delayed, leaving many students awaiting additional support.