OECD: Improved employment opportunities for non-academics

Good quality training prevents unemployment. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) now also confirms this for dual vocational education and training.

According to the latest OECD report, there has been a further improvement in the labour market opportunities for professionally qualified skilled workers in Germany. "In our country, vocational education and training and academic education are equally valued and viable career alternatives," explained Anja Karliczek, Federal Minister of Education and Research (CDU) at the presentation of the report. She added that it was her intention to further develop this competitive advantage over other countries. She also wanted to ensure that all people in Germany have the same opportunities in education, training, and in their careers.

As shown by the report, the employment rate for young adults aged between 25 and 34, who have completed dual training or a comparable qualification in the intermediate qualification range, has risen by six percentage points from 77 percent in 2007 to 83 percent in 2017. Anja Karliczek points out that this is just under the 87 percent employment rate among young people with a tertiary qualification. Tertiary qualifications include degrees from universities and from colleges of advanced vocational studies as well as master craftsman and technician qualifications.

OECD values master craftsman and technician training

Holger Schwannecke, General Secretary of the German Central Association of Skilled Trades (ZDH), welcomed the fact that the OECD was once again acknowledging the important role of vocational education and training in their report. This was an important step, he explained, following decades in which the OECD in particular had primarily focussed on the university degree as the 'silver bullet' for professional qualification. He views the fact that the OECD now also includes technicians and master craftsmen among graduates in the tertiary sector as a success.

ZDH: Finally delivering the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Pact

Holger Schwannecke additionally called for those completing a master craftsman or technician qualification to also receive better financial support. "We finally need equal financial support for higher-level vocational education and training in order to also make the career prospects for vocational education and training financially more attractive," he demanded. He added that the content of the VET Pact, which formed part of the coalition agreement, must now finally be delivered and that the relevant financial resources must be provided for this.

As Federal Minister of Education and Research Karliczek went on to say, the integration of migrants in the labour market is certainly making good progress. She admitted, however, that there was still much to do. According to statements from her ministry, one particular challenge exists in also reaching those individuals who have entered the country as young people or young adults and might possibly need to resit a school leaving certificate or training qualification.