Matching education and career prospects

German Federation for Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK) President Karpinski: "Manual labour is equal to mental labour."

An apprenticeship in the skilled trades still is the best basis for a successful career. "Customers want masterful work, we want the highest degree of competence", said Jürgen Karpinski, President of the ZDK, during the 10th Federal Vocational Education and Training Conference in Bad Wildungen.

The dual system of vocational education and training and the master craftsman obligation are guarantors for professional careers, he said. The industry spokesman urged policy makers to acknowledge more the value of vocational education and training in the skilled trades. "Manual labour is equal to mental labour."

He continued by saying that cars remain the number one supporters of technology, which results in a huge responsibility for the automotive industry. Those who fail to intensively deal with training the young generation today give away their own future, said Karpinski.

"Our country will be as good as we train our young generation today." At present, the industry sector provides vocational education and training for more than 95,000 young people.

2014 saw a rise in new apprenticeship contracts of four per cent compared to the previous year. The occupation of automotive mechatronics fitter remains the most popular vocational training occupation in Germany.

Professor Friedrich Hubert Esser from the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training emphasised that these days it is no longer just about vocational education and training, but also about integration into an occupation.

While the demographic development is slightly abated by immigration, the trend towards academisation increasingly changes the courses of education, he said. "We need more commitment to the value of vocational education and training and the corresponding occupations", Esser echoed Karpinski's exhortation.

He said that attractive prospects within the companies are equally important. Esser: "These days, adolescents desire not only a comfortable income, but also the compatibility of professional and private life as well as a modern working environment."

The expert also demanded reinforced advisory services for founders of new businesses to facilitate the risky start into self-employment. This requires increased political support, he said. According to Esser, the megatrend digitalisation also increases in significance.

The requirements of 'economy 4.0' include an open mind for new developments and technologies as well as the internationalisation of education, in particular, intercultural competence and foreign language skills.