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10,000 skilled labour traineeships go unfilled

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10,000 skilled labour traineeships go unfilled
Photo: DPA

More than 10,000 apprenticeship positions remain open in the skilled labour sector despite the economic crisis, daily Bild reported on Wednesday.

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The recession has a limited affect on the number of traineeships because many businesses in the sector have not suffered as much as other industries, the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) survey found.

“Small-scale industrial techniques are a stabilising anchor for the German economy in the economic crisis,” ZDH President Otto Kenzler told the paper. “Those who learn an industrial skill are investing well in their career future.”

According to Bild, the highest concentration of apprenticeships are available in the nine formerly East German states. Dropping rates of high school graduates in the region have reduced the number of eligible applicants.

Last month the ZDH announced it would attempt to combat a looming shortage of skilled workers in German industry by actively recruiting apprentices who have immigration background.

The situation is at odds with what the German trade union association (DGB) this week called an overall shortage of 110,000 training positions in the country.

“A shortage of skilled labour threatens the economy as the number of training positions is reduced,” DGB Vice Chairwoman Ingrid Sehrbrock said on Tuesday.

The organisation encouraged businesses to maintain a high number of traineeships despite falling high school graduation rates.

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