80 percent of all students can imagine taking up vocational training in the dual system, and for half of them it is even their goal. This was the result of a study conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation in 2024. However, young people with a higher level of education in particular would like more advice and support at school. This shows the great importance of teachers and the school as a place of learning for the future of their pupils. At the same time, three out of four of those surveyed stated that they received support from their own parents in their search for an apprenticeship.
This is why the Birkenfeld District National Park, as the responsible body for secondary schools, has joined forces with the Bad Kreuznach Employment Agency to launch the "jobzzone" training company guide for the ninth time - and is making it available free of charge to pupils in the pre-release classes. "jobzzone" supports them and their parents in their career orientation and offers employers a forum to proactively recruit the next generation of skilled workers.
"Many current surveys show: The shortage of skilled workers is one of the biggest challenges for companies in our region. Through the "jobzzone", we support them in finding their junior staff and being successful in the region," emphasizes District Administrator Miroslaw Kowalski.
"The 'jobzzone' offers a comprehensive overview of the companies in the region, their innovative strength, their regional roots and their willingness to give young people opportunities. The magazine also provides examples of what young people particularly appreciate about their training," says Frank Frühauf, Lord Mayor of Idar-Oberstein.
"The 'jobzzone' enables future trainees to better orient themselves in today's almost unmanageable selection of training professions and dual study programs. Here they can find opportunities and prospects in the region. At the same time, training companies are given the opportunity to get young people interested," adds Miroslaw Kowalski.
"Digitalization is changing existing job profiles and new ones are being added. Young people have a wealth of training opportunities open to them, which also offer excellent promotion and development opportunities. 'jobzzone' presents a regional and local overview and can increase the attractiveness of dual training for our students," said Edeltraud Nikodemus, Managing Director of the Bad Kreuznach Employment Agency. She gave an overview of the current situation on the training market. There were 540 vacancies compared to 310 applicants. This means that the number of people seeking training registered with the careers advice service has almost halved over the past ten years and is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of companies.
The high-quality print edition is distributed to pupils in the district for use in the classroom. It also offers parents at home the opportunity to find out about the current requirements and offers on the training market. After all, job profiles have changed and new ones have been added.
"With the 'jobzzone', we are reaching the employees of tomorrow to get them excited about apprenticeships and dual study programs in the region," explains Matthias Ess from the publishing house Matthias Ess. The associated Internet platform www.jobzzone.de offers an extensive regional database with many search functions - such as a local search or sorting options according to interests. Companies also have the opportunity to present themselves and their training courses in short videos. Special service: From the print edition of "jobzzone", pupils can use QR codes to go directly to the company profile in the online database and can then contact the training companies directly.