Bückeburg tops per‑capita apprenticeship openings in Germany, study shows

A new analysis of apprenticeship listings on Ausbildung.de reveals that the small town of Bückeburg (19,000 residents) offers the highest number of training positions per 1,000 inhabitants in Germany – 19.1 spots per 1,000 people, compared with just one per 1,000 in Berlin. The report, dubbed the Ausbildungsbarometer 2026, highlights stark regional differences: while major cities dominate in absolute numbers (Berlin 42,508, Hamburg 29,314, Munich 25,054), many midsize towns outperform them on a per‑capita basis.

Gütersloh leads the growth chart with a 238 % increase in advertised apprenticeships over the previous year, followed by Erlangen (+59 %), Bielefeld (+50 %) and Stuttgart (+30 %). Conversely, cities such as Schwerin, Wertheim and Biberach recorded double‑digit declines. Nationwide the total number of listings rose by 7 % between May 2025 and May 2026, with a seasonal surge of 33 % from August to December 2025, reflecting a winter hiring peak.

The data underscores that job‑seekers may find more opportunities and less competition in smaller municipalities, provided they can relocate.