Carpenters protest against cuts to the ÜLU and ÜBS training courses.

The federal government's budget for next year allocates less funding for the modernization of educational institutions and apprenticeship training. The carpentry trade warns of negative consequences for training companies.

The German government plans to cut funding for inter-company training centers and inter-company apprenticeship instruction in its 2027 budget. The Ministry of Economic Affairs intends to allocate €55 million in the current fiscal year to modernization and equipment upgrades at these training centers. However, only €47,8 million is earmarked for this purpose next year. Simultaneously, the federal subsidy for inter-company apprenticeship instruction is slated to decrease from €90 million to just under €80 million.

The German Wood and Plastics Association (TSD) is demanding the reversal of the cuts planned in the 2027 federal budget. In a letter to Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU), it warns of "increasing burdens for training companies and a weakening of skilled worker retention in the trades." The federal and state governments could each relieve companies of up to one-third of the costs of inter-company training courses. However, the current funding practices of both the federal and state governments are far from this.

Cuts put a strain on businesses.

ZDH Appeal : The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) is also advocating for reliable funding for training institutions. Read more here: ZDH Demands Reliable Funding for Training Institutions . According to the association's calculations, the eight-week inter-company training courses (ÜLU) cost approximately €7.100 per trainee. "Even with full funding from the federal and state governments, around €3.600 remains with the company. This means that training companies are already bearing more than half of the course costs," the association states. The reason for this is that the basic level of training is not funded by the federal government, and the cost rates have increased by two to almost four times since 1999, depending on the course. Any further cuts will shift the costs even further to the detriment of companies.

"Training takes place within the company. Anyone who cuts corners on the professional qualification of our young talent now is turning the commitment to training into a cost issue for small businesses – and this in a trade that is bucking the trend of training apprentices," says TSD President Thomas Radermacher. Managing Director Dr. Katharina Gamillscheg adds: "Inter-company apprentice training is an indispensable component of the dual vocational training system. It ensures that apprentices, regardless of the size of their training company, learn all the essential skills and technologies of their profession. It supplements in-company training where individual companies cannot teach all the content themselves."

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Do not question the strengths of vocational training

The German Carpenters' Association is therefore calling for the federal subsidy for inter-company vocational training (ÜLU) to remain at least at €90 million for 2027. The subsidy amounts must be calculated so that the company's share does not exceed one-third of the actual costs. Furthermore, both funding lines must be anchored in the medium-term financial plan, and the investment funds for inter-company vocational training centers (ÜBS) must be increased back to €55 million. Radermacher stated: "The Bundestag increased the funding for inter-company vocational training for 2026, and the federal states followed suit. This path must be continued. Especially in times when shortcomings in the education system are becoming apparent, we must not call into question the strengths of vocational training," Radermacher emphasized.

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