Ten facts about skilled crafts
The skilled crafts are the number one trainee instructor in Germany - and always looking for talent. Ten facts you should know.
Many different jobs
From alteration tailor to motor bike and bicycle mechanic: over 130 skilled craft trades can be learned by young people in Germany. These include such well-known occupations as baker or bricklayer, but also unusual jobs such as gem cutter or maker of plucked instruments.
Attractive employers
The number of skilled craft enterprises in Germany is around 1,000,000; there were 250,000 fewer in 1998. Skilled crafts are considered future-proof and offer many career opportunities. These include advanced training as a state-certified technician or business economist, and of course self-employment as a master craftsman or master craftswoman.
Trainee instructor number one
Well over a quarter of all trainees in Germany are training for an occupation in skilled crafts. That's more than in any other trade.
Opportunities for beginners
In spite of the many advantages, skilled craft businesses in Germany are still looking for new talent: the number of employees has remained around 5.6 million since 2024, even though numerous new companies have sprung up during this time. In 2004, skilled craft trades had 5.8 million employees.
Talent sought
Skilled craftsmen are in high demand. In 2022, there were nearly 250,000 job vacancies in the skilled crafts.
The most sought-after occupations
Skilled craftsmen are particularly lacking in Germany in these sectors: mechatronics and electronics, vehicle construction, plumbing and installation, and in the subsequent building out of shell construction.
The largest occupational groups
Thirty-six percent of skilled craft businesses in Germany are among the building finishing crafts (plumbing, window construction, painting), and 11 percent are in the main construction industry, which includes jobs such as road builders, bricklayers and screed layers. A quarter of skilled craft enterprises specialize in personal services.
Growing economic factor
In 2024, the revenues of German skilled craft trades reached around 765 billion euros. It has increased significantly in recent years: in 2004, it was still 479 billion euros.
Interesting for women and men
A particularly high proportion of women apprentices can be found in creative professions, training for example to be hairdressers, bespoke tailors, goldsmiths or pastry chefs. Men most often train for the following jobs: automotive mechatronics, electronics and plant mechanic for plumbing, heating and air conditioning.
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