The Federal Council wants to reduce the number of apprenticeship occupations.

The Federal Council has accepted a motion from Saxony calling on the federal government to reduce the number of recognized training occupations and specializations in dual vocational training.

The Free State of Saxony submitted a resolution to the Bundesrat (Federal Council) entitled "Reduction of the Number of Recognized Training Occupations in Dual Vocational Training," which has now been adopted. The states are thus calling on the Federal Government to develop legislation to reduce the number of recognized training occupations, specializations, and areas of focus within dual vocational training.

Currently, there are 328 vocational training occupations in Germany, in addition to 178 specializations and 88 focus areas. "This high number leads to increasing complexity in the dual vocational training system and makes it difficult for both prospective trainees and companies to find suitable apprenticeships and to provide efficient instruction for vocational schools," the application states.

Recognition value is lost

The many possible specializations have led to a loss of recognizability, and thus "a key attractiveness factor of the core occupational profiles" has been lost. "To make the German vocational training system fit for the future, the federal states believe it is necessary to consolidate the multitude of occupations and their specializations more effectively." The aim is to create core occupations from this consolidation. 

A stronger grouping of professions could significantly simplify career guidance. According to the Federal Council, core professions offer young people greater recognition and orientation value than the numerous specializations, which at first glance do not appear differentiated to young people. Simplifications could also contribute to procedural ease in the recognition process for foreign qualifications.

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Combine training occupations into core occupations

Specifically, the Federal Council proposes merging related training occupations into core occupations, reducing the number of specializations and focus areas that require separate schooling in the third and fourth year of training, and examining how specializations and focus areas can be integrated differently into company-based vocational training.

Resolution proposal: Here you will find the adopted proposal " Reduction of the number of recognized training occupations in dual vocational training ".

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