Matching problems in the vocational training market: How can training places and applicants find each other?

In-company vocational training is an essential part of the German education system. But it is in crisis: Compared to 2019, the number of training contracts concluded in 2020 fell by 9.4 per cent. Moreover, there is growing concern about longer-term negative consequences for young people’s entry into working life.

One of the current challenges for the vocational training market are so-called matching problems, which have intensified since Corona: While in 2020, on the one hand, about 12 per cent of training places remained unfilled, on the other hand, about 14 per cent of those willing to train did not find a job.

This challenge deals with the question of how the training offers of companies and the demand of applicants can be better matched in the future. The first step is to find out what we know about the causes of matching problems: What role do geography, qualification requirements, applicants’ interests, etc., play? Then, in a second step, we develop approaches to solutions. It can be helpful to focus on one of the causes.

Must-Read – diese Literatur sollte das Team vor dem Kick-Off gelesen haben:

Oeynhausen et al. (2020): Die Entwicklung des Ausbildungsmarktes im Jahr 2020, BIBB Bericht, https://www.bibb.de/dokumente/pdf/ab11_beitrag_ausbildungsmarkt-2020.pdf (Kapitel 1-2)

Matthes et al. (2014): Wachsende Passungsprobleme auf dem Ausbildungsmarkt: Analysen und Lösungsansätze, BIBB Bericht, https://www.bibb.de/dokumente/pdf/a2_passungsprobleme-ausbildungsmarkt.pdf

Bellmann & Fitzenberger (2021): Die Covid-19-Krise der Berufsausbildung, WSI Mitteilungen, 74. JG., 4/2021, https://www.wsi.de/data/wsimit_2021_04_kommentar.pdf

John Horton (2017): “The Effects of Algorithmic Labor Market Recommendations: Evidence from a Field Experiment”, The Journal of Labor Economics., 35(2), http://john-joseph-horton.com/papers/algo_labor_rec.pdf

Scientific Partner

Betreuende Forschende

Amelie Schiprowski

Photo: EconTribute

Amelie Schiprowski is Junior Professor of Applied Microeconomics at ECONtribute at the University of Bonn. In 2012, she completed her Master’s degree in Economics at Sciences Po Paris and Ecole Polytechnique and in 2018, she received her PhD from the University of Potsdam as part of DIW Berlin’s PhD programme. She conducts research in the field of applied microeconomics with a focus on the labour market.