Dual training is an attractive model for success with a future. Due to the Corona pandemic, it is currently not easy to bring supply and demand together on the training market. In the "Summer of Vocational Training" (#AusbildungSTARTEN), the partners of the "Alliance for Initial and Continuing Vocational Training" therefore want to promote this successful model among young people and companies from June to October 2021. With themed action days and a broad selection of events at federal, state and regional level, the diverse support offers are to be made better known. The common goal is that as many young people as possible will be able to start their vocational training in a company in 2021.

Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Peter Altmaier: "The Alliance partners are launching the "Summer of Vocational Training" today. With this initiative, we as an alliance want to jointly encourage young people, their parents and companies to conclude training contracts for the year 2021/22. Because the Corona crisis must not be allowed to become a training or skilled labour crisis. Dual training offers a future and security for young people and it enables companies to find the - future - skilled workers they so urgently need."

Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek: "In the 'Summer of Vocational Training', the Federal Government, the Länder and the social partners are standing together to help young people find the right training place. The Corona pandemic has made it much more difficult for them to gain a concrete impression of occupations and companies again this year. We are now making up for this: We are showcasing high-performance training centres and using innovative formats for career guidance. In this way, we will convince talented young people to take the plunge into the 2021 training year. I am convinced of the efficiency of the dual system. It is a concrete and forward-looking alternative to university for many young people."

Federal Minister of Labour Hubertus Heil: "With our protective umbrella for training places, we are fighting for every training place. A good start to working life is crucial for young people. They are our skilled workers of tomorrow. That is why we are supporting companies that continue to train young people despite the crisis. That is why we are recruiting trainees and trainers in numerous campaign days."

Integration Minister Annette Widmann-Mauz: "Dual training is a trademark of our country and creates prospects, especially in economically difficult times. This is what #AusbildungSTARTEN is intended to show this summer. It is important that all young people, regardless of their social and geographical origin, receive the necessary support when starting training and working life. This helps young people to lead a life on their own two feet and at the same time ensures that we have the next generation of skilled workers that our companies and businesses urgently need. The "Diversity of Dual Training" campaign days therefore also make an important contribution to Germany as a strong business location."

Chairman of the Board of the Federal Employment Agency, Detlef Scheele: "I would like to encourage young people. We currently have more training places than applicants almost everywhere. The chances are good of finding a start in working life even in these difficult times of the pandemic. You can get in touch with our colleagues in the careers advisory service, we are easily accessible - by phone or video chat and can help on a very individual basis. I would also like to appeal to employers to remain active in training despite all the challenges. Those who do not take care of their own skilled workers now will only find skilled workers under more difficult conditions once the pandemic is over. In addition to our wide range of advisory and placement activities, we will be holding various themed action days as part of the "Summer of Vocational Training" campaign. Here we want to network young people and companies once again in a targeted manner and make a further contribution to bringing applicants and employers together, even under the special conditions of this year."

President of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany and Brandenburg's Minister for Education, Youth and Sport, Britta Ernst: "With the #AusbildungStarten initiative, the partners of the Alliance for Initial and Continuing Training are jointly sending out a strong signal for vocational training. I would like to motivate the undecided school leavers to take advantage of the still numerous possibilities and opportunities for training in attractive and demanding occupations and to consider them as a worthwhile perspective for starting a career. With a completed vocational training, all paths are open for a successful professional career! Not only through the offers of professional higher qualification, but also directly into the universities."

Chairman of the Conference of Economics Ministers Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart: "The pandemic must not be allowed to exacerbate the shortage of skilled workers in Germany. I very much welcome the fact that the Federal Government and the Länder, industry and the social partners are joining forces in the "Summer of Vocational Training" to encourage young people to take up dual vocational training. Well-trained workers are the basis for stable economic development and secure our competitiveness in the long term."

Chairwoman of the Conference of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers Kristina Vogt: "We want to motivate school leavers who have not yet made up their minds to opt for dual vocational training in attractive and demanding occupations. With a completed vocational education and training, all paths to a successful professional career will be open later on: Through offers of professional higher qualification, or even through university studies. We support and supplement the summer of training within the framework of activities and agreements together with the training partners at Länder level. It is important for us to provide good support for both trainees and companies. With the initiative "#AusbildungStarten", the partners of the Alliance for Initial and Continuing Training are jointly sending a strong signal for vocational training."

ZDH President Hans Peter Wollseifer: "Particularly in these uncertain times, dual training offers young people a good start in future-proof and demanding professions with excellent further training and career opportunities in all future fields: For the energy and mobility turnaround, housing construction, smart home, the health sector and for many other things, dual-trained and further educated skilled workers are indispensable to shape and implement these. A plus point of dual training is the personal support during the training, which is an attractive perspective and support for young people, especially after the contact restrictions of the pandemic. Together, we want to use the 'Summer of Vocational Training' to whet young people's appetites for training, give them security and alleviate fears about the future, and help them find training that suits them."

DGB Deputy Chair Elke Hannack: "The Corona crisis has also hit the training market. For the first time since German unification, the number of new training contracts has fallen below the 500,000 mark, while at the same time fewer young people are looking for a training place. Despite the difficult situation, we appeal to young people and to companies to continue their efforts to provide training. There is still movement on the training market. It is worth fighting for every single training place. Because the young people we don't train today will be lacking as skilled workers on the labour market in three years' time."

Here you will find the complete press release of the Alliance for Vocational Education and Training. For more information on the "Summer of Vocational Training" and the Alliance for Initial and Continuing Training click here.