Specialists collapse – companies increase the alarm: like few students than ever

The balance for 2024 is just as bad than ever: only 106,452 young people had a apprenticeship course on December 31, which was less than the end of 2023. Austria. In 1990 there were even 145,516 and 1980 there were almost 200,000. Compared to 1980, there are now almost 90,000 lessons less, a minus of 44.5 percent (see graphic).

Considerably fewer beginners
The development of teachers is even more disturbing: the number of young people in the 1st year of apprenticeship fell by 5.8 percent to 32,119 new starters compared to the previous year. Only in the Corona year 2020 was it even lower at 31,969. This is a real problem for our companies. Because if the upswing finally comes after the years of the recession, the companies will miss the urgently required new specialists.

The situation is dramatic almost everywhere from sectors: the largest training industry is the trade and the vessel and here the total number of students fell between 1980 and 2024 from 102,051 to 45,420. This is a minus of 55.5 percent.

In the industry it fell by 40.9 percent, from 28,669 students in 1980 to 16,937 in the previous year. After all, the industrial companies have somewhat increased the number of trainees since the low point in 2000.

The image on the market is different, because it was the strongest downhill here – and the decline continued in recent years: the trading companies still had 40,536 students in 1080, so it was only 13,823 – a minute sage and writing 65, 9 percent.

In the industry “accommodation and gastronomy” the student numbers have collapsed by 55 percent since 1980, from 16,232 to only 7298 at the end of 2024. The low in this industry during the Corona period in 2021 with 6914 students, since then it has been since then That then is somewhat uphill again.

But what are the main reasons for the general student -calling?

1. Demography Shock-De Youth is more than: After the high -birth generations, the children of the low -birth generations are now in age when you choose an internship. The number of 15-year-olds was only 87,188 in 2024 in 2024. In 1980 there were still 130,963 15-year-olds-the then young baby boom sergeneration! Even in 2010 there were almost 95,000 15 -year -olds. Mariana Kühnel, deputy General Secretary of the Austria Chamber of Commerce (WKö) and there for student topics: “Unfortunately, we are currently confronted with the low years of years that are now in the vocational training age. And a company that wants to train but does not find a student who falls from the statistics.
2. Teaching? No thanks! Of the 15-year-olds we still have less and less opting for an internship in Austria. In 1980, for example, 47.2 percent, almost half, the youngsters chose the internship as a training path, it was only 36.8 percent in 2024. This is also a historic low point.
3. Companies give it up – Training becomes a luxury: Nowadays there are fewer companies than before. This is due to the economically difficult times. First we had the Corona Pandemie and now there have been recession behind us for two years. However, the companies are also increasingly complaining that basic skills such as German, mathematics and English are missing among applicants for apprenticeships. Way and punctuality are also more often criticized by the companies. According to surveys, the student places therefore want a quality offensive in schools. Kühnel: “It must be guaranteed that a young person who puts an end to school education is suitable for starting your career and has the right basic skills. This is a task of the education system and may not be released to the companies.

A shortage of trained employees as one of the greatest risks
Nevertheless, companies want to promote their internship training again. Kühnel: “We urgently need the students, they are our specialists of tomorrow and an important puzzle stone in the fight against the shortage of trained employees, who remains one of the greatest economic risks for companies.”

But teaching is also important for the entire country. Kühnel: “The practical training in teaching is essential for Austria, because a continuous qualification level ensures productivity and competitiveness. That is why smaller companies must be able to continue to train students. The temporary, personnel and financial efforts are particularly high for them and increases more than it falls due to school shortages. Consistent bureaucracy reduction would also help to create more freedom for training in the companies.

Students come to the state cheaper
According to the WKö expert, it is also financially worthwhile for the Republic to force the internship: “Little known, but very up -to -date: our training companies help save the state. A student in business training costs the public sector – by setting up professional school costs and all existing apprenticeships – 7700 euros per year. The government spending for BMS or BHS students- 12,000 euros or young people in Intercompany training- 23,000 euros- are considerably higher. Vocational training, made in Austria ‘therefore brings enormous social added value. All parties benefit from the support of teaching: the young people with their families, the companies, the business location and the state!