Study on “Wanted and Found! Recruiting apprentices in the motor vehicle trade”

The study “Wanted and Found …” is based on quantitative written surveys (by questionnaire, mostly online) and qualitative case studies (guideline-based interviews with young people, in selected vocational schools and companies, and with selected parents). The questionnaires are used to record previous decisions, existing facts and structural indicators. Written surveys and case studies are closely related to each other in order to ensure a survey method that is as broad and valid as possible while at the same time being thorough and revealing underlying reasons.

The surveys serve primarily to answer the following questions:

• problems in recruiting suitable apprentices,

• difficulties and problems during training,

• the need for support a) in recruiting apprentices, b) in training socially disadvantaged young people or young people with learning difficulties,

• apprentice recruitment as a strategy for securing skilled workers against the background of the company’s age structure.

Further objectives are the development of support measures and qualification offers for trainers and journeymen

• improving the matching between company requirements and applicants,

• needs-based recruitment of apprentices,

• consolidation and optimisation of internships as a recruitment instrument,

• optional: development of guidelines for companies in training disadvantaged young people (training support for companies).