When it comes to addressing workforce issues–especially making sure that students gain knowledge and training in the fields needed by businesses– Germany could provide some helpful lessons to American schools. At a September 7 meeting of the Penta Career Center board of education, Superintendent Ed Ewers explained a study he recently learned of that examined how German companies were cooperating with local schools and chambers of commerce to train young people. “It’s pretty fascinating information–it demonstrates that if we want to change workforce development to meet the needs, [Penta] fits right in the middle of that,” he said. Mr. Ewers attended a panel discussion of the Transatlantic Business and Investment Council, focused on the skilled labor shortage. Among the presenters were D. Paul Vito, vice president of international development for the Regional Growth Partnership of Northwest Ohio. Denmark, Germany, Austria and Switzerland are known for their dual vocational education systems (dual VET), which coincides with a high labor productivity and some of the lowest youth unemployment rates in Europe. Mr. Ewers said dual VET is a 30 percent technical education and 70 percent incompany practical training that emphasizes institutional partnerships. The model currently is used for more than 330 different professions.
“It produces one of the most qualified workforces worldwide,” Mr. Ewers said.
The panel discussion compared vocational training in the United States and Germany, showing the following differences:
•In the United States, fewer than 5 percent of youth choose an apprenticeship, compared to almost 60 percent in Germany.
•In the United States, there is little industry-university coordination, no international education, and training often lacks practical, handson experience. But in Germany, students attend classes while working at a company and there is strong industryuniversity cooperation that produces a well-trained workforce.
The panel did acknowledge that the shortage of skilled labor is a problem in Germany right now. In 2021, 63,000 apprenticeship positions were left unfilled and nearly 50 percent of German companies indicated that a shortage of qualified employees is the largest barrier to growing their business.
The dual VET program brings together vocational schools, training companies and chambers of commerce who are trying to address the needs. Mr. Ewers believes the model could be beneficial for U.S. use, especially in “how we collaborate and how career technical education is funded.”
He said the results of the German program show “why career technical education is part of the solution when we’re tackling workforce issues.”
–Beth Church