Retail apprentices earn above average. This is the result of the up-to-date evaluation of apprenticeship salaries prepared by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The German Retail Federation (HDE) views these new numbers as a confirmation of this industry's desirability as an occupational field for young people. In addition to the considerable remuneration, apprentices can expect attractive career perspectives and a diversified range of tasks.
With an average of 781 Euro in western Germany and 701 Euro in the East, the industry and commerce apprenticeship remuneration was higher than in any other field of vocational training in the past year. The average of all training salaries was 708 Euro in the West and 642 Euro in the new German federal states. This is the result of an up-to-date evaluation of apprenticeship wages prepared by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).
According to this evaluation, apprentices in the vocational training profession of trained retail salesman/saleswoman, the most popular training profession in 2011, earned an average of 738 Euro in the West and 659 Euro in the East of Germany. "These numbers are proof that the retail industry offers its apprentices not only excellent career opportunities, but also attractive salaries", says Stefan Genth, Executive Managing Director of the HDE. "The retail industry thereby proves once more that it takes its responsibility for society and for the younger generation in particular very seriously."
In 2011, the retail industry was able to disproportionately increase the overall number of offered apprenticeship training positions both in the East and in the West. As regards the profession of trained retail salesman/saleswoman, the industry provided 24 per cent more apprenticeship training positions in the West and 12 per cent more in the East of Germany. As regards the profession of sales assistant, the increase was 24.4 per cent in the West and 33.9 per cent in the East. Genth: "The popularity of training positions in retail also has to do with the good career perspectives in this industry. About two thirds of executives in this field have completed only an apprenticeship. To some degree, this is more than twice the number compared with other branches of industry."
The retail trade offers more than 30 different lines of vocational training. Most sought after are apprenticeships for the profession of trained retail salesman/saleswoman, which has been top of the list of the most popular vocational training occupations for many years now. With a total of about 160,000 apprentices, the retail industry constitutes one of the largest industries providing vocational training in Germany.