Hans-Jürgen Urban, executive board member of IG Metall responsible for education policy: “With so few training places, young people are losing prospects and the country is losing its future. Nationwide, there are 2.64 million 20- to 34-year-olds on the streets without a professional qualification. In the IG Metall sectors alone, employers have cut training positions the size of a small town in the past five years: the companies are training 40,000 fewer people.
This is not how to secure skilled workers. Instead of leveraging potential, many companies still screen applicants. Companies must finally rethink their hiring practices and invest more in training. Skilled workers only grow with attractive training and working conditions.
It is high time to take responsibility for the companies that have not yet provided training: those who do not provide training will finally have to pay into a nationwide training levy.”