Transitions from Vocational Education and Training into the Labour Market

Abstract

The labour market situation in Berlin and Brandenburg is particularly unfavourable in national comparison. In the comparison of federal states in 2006, Berlin's (19.7 per cent) and Brandenburg's (18 per cent) unemployment rates in the age-group of under 25 are the highest in Germany (national average: 10 per cent). However, youth unemployment patterns vary regionally within Berlin and Brandenburg. Transition rates from training to regular employment have indeed risen in both states in recent time, but are still far below the national average. Employment participation directly after the completion of training is lower for those who received training in Berlin or Brandenburg, with men having lower employment rates than women, and thus receiving transfer benefits in greater part. Also, non-Germans from Berlin have clearly worse chances of being employed after training. Furthermore, those who completed training for occupations in crafts have especially severe problems entering into employment. Young people often do not succeed in finding work in the occupation in which they completed training. More than a third of those from Berlin, and almost half of those from Brandenburg who completed training in 2005, did not work in the occupation they were trained for in 2006. Regarding occupational matching, the situation for men is worse than for women; gender disparities are particularly large in the group of non-Germans in Berlin. The lesser chances in craft occupations are also reflected in occupational matching. Although, thus, women master the entry into employment better than men, they reach distinctly lower incomes. This holds especially for non-German women. Earnings possibilities vary considerably between particular occupational groups. The lowest earnings are clearly identified in the occupational group of personal hygiene. Due to a looming lack of skilled labour and the decreasing numbers of students (pupils) in East Germany on the grounds of demographic change, an improvement in labour market chances for young people who have completed training can be expected. (IAB)

Cite article

Brzinsky-Fay, C., Burkert, C., Ebner, C., Nikolai, R. & Seibert, H. (2009): Übergänge aus der Berufsausbildung in den Arbeitsmarkt. In: Amt für Statistik Berlin (Hrsg.) (2009): Bildung in Berlin und Brandenburg 2008 : Supplementband I: Erträge aus Bildung, p. 14-16.