Labor and apprenticeship trends in Germany and Austria

As the 2026 apprenticeship year begins, vocational training trends in Germany and Austria show significant regional variation. In Germany, several crafts sectors are experiencing growth: the Mannheim Rhein-Neckar-Odenwald area recorded a 10.11 percent increase, the Ulm region saw a 6 percent rise (particularly in construction), and the Stuttgart region reported a 5.3 percent increase driven by climate-related professions. In Unterfranken, new contracts rose by 3.8 percent to pre-pandemic levels, with international trainees accounting for 22 percent of new apprentices.

Conversely, the IHK Heilbronn-Franken region reported a 7.2 percent decrease due to demographic and economic pressures, and the Neckar-Odenwald district saw contracts fall by 12.3 percent.

In Austria, the Tyrol region is seeing a recovery with approximately 1,600 new apprentices expected in September. Interest in dual education is influenced by the perceived security of manual trades against artificial intelligence, with 40 percent of local youth viewing apprenticeships as a viable option.

Broader trends in Austria indicate that while the proportion of the population with an apprenticeship has remained stable at approximately 31 percent since 1981, the number of university graduates has increased fivefold to 21.6 percent in 2024. This has led to trades such as automotive mechanics, painters, and metalworkers being classified as shortage occupations. However, placement challenges persist; in Carinthia, the number of apprentices seeking positions is rising while vacancies decrease. To address these issues, the Carinthian government is promoting the ‘apprenticeship with Matura’ model to increase attractiveness, though local businesses remain cautious regarding its impact on traditional training paths. Other obstacles to successful placement include inadequate public transportation, high commuting costs, rising rents, and psychological pressures among youth.