Retail companies with high willingness to train - shortage of applicants worsens

Retail companies with high willingness to train - shortage of applicants worsens

As current figures from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) show, the retail sector, with its two core occupations of salesperson and retail clerk, continues to lead the top ten in terms of apprenticeships offered.

The German Retail Association (HDE) underlines the role of retail as one of the sectors with the highest training requirements in Germany, but sees the growing shortage of applicants in the two core professions as a threat to the future of many companies.

"Retailers' desire for training remains unbroken. However, the increasing number of apprenticeships offered is generating fewer applicants for the two core trades. This trend must not continue," said HDE General Manager Stefan Genth.

On the BA's list of apprenticeships available, retail sales assistants ranked first with 38,495 positions, as in the previous year, followed by sales assistants with 29,730 positions. Thus, the number of apprenticeships available in both professions has increased compared to the previous year.

While the number of apprenticeships offered in the two core occupations increased by a total of 16.5 percent, the number of applicants declined compared to the previous year, 2024. For apprenticeships as retail salesmen, the number of applicants decreased by approximately eight percent.

"The shortage of young talent in retail poses a threat to the future of the industry. The new federal government is also called upon to promote a wider appreciation for training," emphasizes Genth.

Starting with comprehensive and reliable career guidance in all schools, young people must be shown the added value of a career with an apprenticeship.

HDE campaign: “Make a career in retail!”

As part of its industry campaign, the HDE therefore provides information on the diverse training opportunities and career options in retail on the website www.karriere-handel.de.

Under the motto "Make a career in retail!", students, those unsure about their studies, parents, teachers, and career advisors learn interesting facts about the more than 60 apprenticeships, as well as high school graduate programs in retail and dual study programs that retail companies offer in retail, warehousing, logistics, office, and production.