At an energy sector works council summit in Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) issued a pointed appeal: Germany must reduce its reliance on academic pathways and strengthen vocational training.
Speaking to representatives from major utilities including EnBW, E.ON, LEAG, RWE, Uniper and Vattenfall, Merz criticized what he described as a growing trend of “over-academization.”
“The human being does not begin with the high school graduate, nor does he reach completion as an academic,” Merz said, urging industry leaders to promote “fantastic professions” available through the dual training system.
His remarks were met with strong applause from the audience.
Tens of thousands of training positions remain vacant
The backdrop to Merz’s comments is the persistently high number of unfilled apprenticeship positions.
According to the Federal Employment Agency, around 129,000 training spots remained vacant nationwide at the start of the current academic year—only slightly better than the 158,000 left open the year before.
The problem is particularly acute in the energy sector. Data from the Competence Center for Workforce Development show that in 2024, eight out of ten construction electrician positions went unfilled, amounting to 18,343 vacancies.
The profession is considered a key occupation for the energy transition, including the expansion of hydrogen-based technologies.
Academic pathways dominate among young people
Meanwhile, the share of school-leavers eligible for university study has risen sharply. In 2023, 47.1% of young people held a university entrance qualification (up from 36% in 1995).
Depending on the federal state, as many as 90% of these graduates enroll at universities, often regardless of their aptitude.
“Many young people would be better off not starting a degree at all because they lack the necessary foundation,” said Stefan Düll, president of the German Teachers’ Association.
“There are great jobs that require no university education but a solid vocational training.”
Campaigns to counter the academic trend
Efforts are underway to rebrand vocational training as an attractive career path.
Advocates highlight that apprenticeships often lead to financial independence earlier: tradespeople can be earning good wages in their early 20s, whereas university graduates may not secure stable employment until their late 20s.
However, Düll also pointed out a paradox: certain professions traditionally associated with vocational training now require academic qualifications, such as midwifery, which demands a bachelor’s degree.
This, he warned, risks creating an “overloaded” system in which both academic and vocational tracks are increasingly blurred.
Growing imbalance in Germany
Germany’s dual training system is internationally praised, but current trends show a growing imbalance: more students are heading to universities while key industries face severe skill shortages.
Merz’s intervention reopens the debate on whether Germany is producing too many academics and too few skilled tradespeople—an issue with profound implications for the country’s economic future and energy transition.
