Overview

• Nearly 30% of apprentices do not complete their training, a series high in the DGB’s 2025 survey of 9,090 respondents.
• Only 18.8% of companies offer training positions, marking a low point for employer participation in the dual system.
• About 63% say their pay does not cover living costs, with roughly a third relying on parental support and 12.7% working side jobs.
• Some 41.5% of final‑year trainees lack clarity on post‑training jobs, though DIHK and IAB report most graduates are retained by their firms.
• Hospitality, food trades and personal services score lowest on training quality, with 32.3% reporting regular overtime and 14.7% frequent non‑training tasks, as the DGB presses for higher minimum pay and stronger guarantees.