Provide training and ensure skilled labour supply

The partners associated within the "National Pact for Career Training and Skilled Manpower Development in Germany" have raised awareness for the "Apprenticeship Placement Day" (Tag des Ausbildungsplatzes) and the numerous offers of information for employers as well as for young people:

"As partners within the Pact for Career Training we strive towards providing all young people willing to and able to take up an apprenticeship with a vocational education and training or qualification offer and to tap the full potential of the vocational education and training market to ensure the skilled labour supply.

We urgently appeal to enterprises, freelancers and public authorities: Groom your next generation of young skilled staff in time! Create apprenticeship placements! If possible, provide training well beyond your own demand and make sure to register your apprenticeship placements with the Federal Employment Agency, the job centres, chambers and industry associations. What is more, these will provide you with advice in all questions pertaining to vocational education and training.

Provide increasingly also opportunities for young people in need of support and young adults with disabilities, giving them a chance. If you choose to provide training for disadvantaged youngsters, these can receive support running parallel to their apprenticeship. In many cases, the apprenticeship training provision for people with disabilities is eligible for support by the Federal Employment Agency and the integration offices, for example, by grants in aid of apprenticeship remuneration and for funding the creation of new apprenticeship placements. These bodies provide also qualified advice in all questions relating to the vocational education and training provision for people with disabilities.

Since the beginning of 2013, www.stark-fuer-ausbildung.de provides comprehensive information regarding the provision of vocational education and training for weaker performing young people, including a trainer's manual. Alternatively, provide part-time vocational education and training to give young mothers and fathers a chance to earn a professional qualification.

Make sure to provide applicants with clear information regarding the status of their application as early in the process as possible. This way, you can make sure to win over those future apprentices who best meet your demands while at the same time giving other young people the opportunity to continue in their application efforts in a targeted manner.

Our appeal is directed also to young people: Hand in your applications in time and cast a wide net! Collect information regarding potential occupations and career opportunities, for example, on the campaign website www.praktisch-unschlagbar.de and on the webpages of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) under www.arbeitsagentur.de.

As a rule, there is more than one dream occupation. Often, it is worthwhile to look also to other regions than just the one that defines home. In your search you are supported by the branch offices of the Federal Employment Agency, by job centres, chambers and industry associations. The BA's job exchange, the nationwide IHK apprenticeship exchanges and the apprenticeship exchanges of the chambers of crafts and industry associations provide numerous apprenticeship placement offers.

Moreover, we urgently ask you: Do not block apprenticeship placements by multiple acceptances. This is a matter of fairness towards other young people and towards the businesses themselves."