Addressing Challenges in the Transition Sector: Improving Vocational Training Opportunities for Young People

For years, many young people have not been able to get qualified vocational training after completing compulsory schooling. In 2022 there were 239,000 young people. You end up in one of the numerous measures of the so-called transition sector. It includes more than 120 school courses and over 320 support programs. Most of the young people come from families with a low socio-economic status or with a migration history. More than 70 percent have at most a secondary school diploma. In addition, there are young people who live in a region where the offer of training places is too low.

The measures of the transition system are intended to make it easier for young people to get into vocational training. For many, however, they do not lead them into training, but rather into fragile employment or unemployment. The sociologist spoke as early as 2004in Heike Solga of a “Parallel system” with the risk of stigmatization and exclusion.

After three years, not even two thirds have made the transition

The current problems of the transition sector can be seen in the following points:

• Only around a third of young people make the transition to training after one year. Even after three years of several measures, the transition rate is only 60 percent.
• If young people with starting disadvantages are able to make the transition to training, then often in professions with low social prestige (lower income, few opportunities for advancement). They also have a higher risk of a fragmented and unstable training course.
• Young people with a maximum of a secondary school diploma and other starting disadvantages are more likely to be Terminations of training affected.
• Since, on the one hand, the number of transitions is limited and, on the other hand, the risk of dropping out increases, many end up in employment as so-called low-skilled people. The proportion of 25 to 34 year olds without a professional qualification was 18.5 percent or 1.92 million in 2021.

Measures are not evaluated

The high number of school education courses, support programs and instruments shows that the transition sector has received a high level of public support for years. Nevertheless, with the current funding strategies and despite one thing billion-dollar funding volume not, the number of Transitions to vocational training to increase or the Reduce the number of low-skilled workers. On the contrary, the rate has continued to rise in recent years.

And: Despite the immense funding amounts are related to the support measures used almost no evaluations before. In this respect, it remains unclear which of the measures are effective.

At the same time, it should be noted that the transition to dual vocational training does not (only) depend on the young people’s requirements. Ultimately they regulate it establishments. She cannot be forced to create more training places or to employ certain young people. At the same time, young people cannot be forced to choose training occupations or specific training companies as part of their free choice of career.

Young people need to start training early

If only around 60 percent of young people manage to get into training after three years in measures in the transition sector, it appears new approach necessary.

To date, the design of transition sector measures has largely followed this Principle of separation: Young people without training should prepared separately from training in order to improve their chances of getting a training place. This approach sees the reasons for a lack of training largely in the lack of readiness for training of the young people. He ignores that in many regions no selectable offer at training places.

In view of the lack of training positions, publicly funded training positions must urgently be created. Instead of the previous separate approach, it is needed targeted elements of inclusion.

Integrate support measures into training

To do this, it is necessary to differentiate between young people according to their requirements:

• A (larger) proportion of young people in the transition sector are able to to complete vocational training without any support measures or accompanied by existing funding instruments that are to be integrated into the training. You should be able to start vocational training – if there are no in-company training places, on a subsidiary basis state-sponsored training.
• Young people who are not yet able to successfully enter training due to cognitive, linguistic or social requirements should with the help of an introductory guide be prepared for training. This preparation should be: 1. high grade individualized be aligned with the diagnosed needs, 2. a professional, linguistic and social support in multi-professional teams and 3. if possible intensive and therefore short take place.

The aim must be to melt away the transition sector

The consistent implementation of this approach would not eliminate the transition sector, but would focus on those young people who need special support due to their life situation. The Transitional sector would melt awaymore young people would be led to a (quicker) qualification, public resources used more efficiently.

Dysfunctionalities of the training market would be balanced out under state responsibility. The appreciation of disadvantaged young people could also contribute positively to the added value of the economy. More young people would have a reason to be proud of what they have achieved.

Die The framework conditions for fundamental reform of the transition sector are favorable. Demographics and the need for skilled workers, digital and ecological transformation processes and, last but not least, the dangers of social polarization and radicalization of parts of society make it essential to leverage the talents and resources of all people.

After completing his dual training as a data processing clerk, Dieter Euler studied business administration, business education, sociology and social philosophy. He taught in Potsdam and Erlangen-Nuremberg before moving to the University of St. Gallen in 2000. His main topics include innovations in vocational training and digital media didactics.

You can read the complete text as well as other articles about the transition from school to work in the publication “22 percent – those overlooked in the transition to training” by the German Children and Youth Foundation from October 19, 2023. Further information can be found at www.dkjs.de/22-Prozent.