A Head Start through Youth? How Apprentices Modernise Companies

Every August, vocational training programmes begin in Germany. However, fewer and fewer school leavers are opting for an apprenticeship. In addition to the declining birth rate, the increasing trend towards academic education also plays a significant role. Yet, apprentices are a vital resource for companies – not just to keep the workforce young, but also to stay technologically competitive. But what do apprentices have to do with technology investments? Cäcilia Lipowski, a researcher in the “Labour Markets and Social Insurance” Unit, explores this in the latest ZEW podcast edition. Additionally, she and podcast host Bastian Thüne discuss the state of the dual vocational training system and why companies train more effectively for the labour market than universities do.