Highest apprenticeship rates Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland
The number of apprentices in Germany’s private sector rose by around 19,000 in 2024 compared with the previous year. At the end of December 2024, the overall figure stood at 1.52 million.
The apprenticeship rate, i.e., the number of apprentices in relation to all employees subject to social insurance contributions, is currently highest in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, and lowest in Berlin and Hamburg.
Larger establishments have a growing advantage
Although the total number of apprentices rose for the second year in a row in 2024, it is mainly large (+4.6%) and medium-sized establishments (+1.9%) that are benefiting from this development. By contrast, the number of apprentices in small and very small establishments decreased (-1.0% / -2.6%).
Overall, (very) small and medium-sized establishments continue to train most apprentices (68.4%). However, the proportion of apprentices trained by large establishments has been growing consistently for years. At the same time, very small establishments with less than 10 employees (subject to social insurance contributions) are gradually falling further behind in the competition for future skilled workers.
