Southwest region still has thousands of unoccupied training positions available
In Germany, employers are being encouraged to give chances to applicants who may face starting difficulties, as these individuals could become tomorrow's specialists for their company. This approach is part of a lesser-known program called assisted training, which provides tailored support to help young people overcome challenges and complete their vocational training.
According to the German Press Agency (dpa/lsw), almost 67,000 training positions were reported as of May, a figure that is fewer than in the two previous years. However, the importance of this program becomes evident when considering that almost 12,400 of the applicants had a foreign passport - an increase of over 16 percent compared to the previous year. Many of these applicants are refugees.
Assisted training offers support to young people before and during their training, including organizing tutoring and solving company problems. It provides part-time vocational training options, which are anchored in the Vocational Training Act and extended since 2020, allowing young people who face challenges such as family responsibilities, language barriers, or physical and mental limitations to engage flexibly in career development opportunities.
In addition, external vocational training funded by the Federal Employment Agency can be carried out part-time for important personal reasons, expanding access for those who otherwise might be excluded. Some federal states, like North Rhine-Westphalia, have initiatives supporting such flexible training pathways, opening perspectives through part-time vocational education.
Socio-educational support systems such as Jugendmigrationsdienste (Youth Migration Services) offer guidance and assistance tailored to young people with migrant backgrounds during transitions from school to vocational training or employment. Career guidance systems also play a critical role in helping individuals assess skills relative to labor market needs and personal ambitions, identifying skills gaps and guiding targeted training initiatives.
AI-driven assisted training can unlock hidden talents by providing adaptive, individualized learning environments free from stigma, supporting learners who may otherwise be overlooked by traditional systems. AI tools can dynamically adjust training difficulty, offer multiple explanations, and provide motivational feedback, enabling young people to learn at their own pace and build confidence more effectively.
The call for employers to give chances to applicants with starting difficulties is made by Martina Musati, head of the Regional Directorate of Baden-Württemberg. She emphasizes that potential talents should not be wasted by not giving these individuals a chance. As of May, there were around 34,000 open training positions in the southwest, according to the Federal Employment Agency.
Despite the economic situation, the solution to the increase in unplaced young people in Stuttgart, where more than half of the training positions remain unfilled, is seen as "assisted training". This program, a promotion tool of the Employment Agency, could help address untapped opportunities in training and career development for young people in Germany.
- The assisted training program in Germany, which offers support to individuals with challenges towards career development, extends part-time vocational training options that are especially beneficial for those with language barriers, family responsibilities, or physical and mental limitations, contributing to economic and social policy.
- As part of a broader effort to promote educational self-development and personal growth, AI-driven assisted training can provide adaptive, individualized learning environments for applicants who may face starting difficulties in their career development, thereby ensuring that everyone has equitable opportunities for skill acquisition and potential career success.
