Overview
- Official data show 461,800 new dual apprenticeship contracts in 2025, down 13,300 or 2.8% from 2024, extending the prior year’s decline after small gains from 2021 to 2023.
- The total number of people in dual training stood at about 1,207,900 at year-end, a 0.8% drop, and Destatis said the figures are preliminary and cover only BBiG/HwO apprenticeships.
- Industry and trade hosted about 677,100 apprentices and crafts about 342,700, with liberal professions at 113,100 and smaller numbers in public service, agriculture, and home economics.
- Men accounted for 64% of new contracts and women 36%, with men most prevalent in crafts at 81% and agriculture at 74%, and women most prevalent in liberal professions at 89% and home economics at 80%; new public service starts were 63% female.
- Destatis noted the statistics exclude many school‑based and health-sector trainings and do not show how many training places were offered or left unfilled, and detailed final results are due in August 2026, while unions and industry groups split on causes and remedies.