Fewer Apprenticeship Positions in the Chemical Industry in Eastern Germany

The number of apprenticeship positions in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries in eastern Germany has continued to decline. According to the employers’ association Nordostchemie, its member companies offered a total of 549 positions for the 2026 apprenticeship year.

This represents a 6 percent decline compared to the previous year. According to the report, the number of apprenticeship positions in the region in 2025 was already 33 percent lower than at the start of the 2024 apprenticeship year.

There are various reasons for this trend. Some companies reported that applicants lacked basic academic knowledge and the prerequisites for successful training. Demographic trends in eastern Germany further exacerbated the shortage of young talent.

Not all apprenticeship positions were filled

According to the data, only 462 positions could be filled with suitable applicants at the start of the current training year. That is 13 percent fewer than in the previous year.

The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is facing a difficult economic situation. Weak demand, high energy and production costs, and international competitive pressure have been weighing on the industry for years, according to Nordostchemie. This is now also affecting apprenticeship planning.

“Too few young people are starting apprenticeships, and increasingly, they lack the basic academic qualifications. On top of that, the economic situation in our industry is catastrophic and has already had a direct impact on our apprenticeship offerings,” said Nora Schmidt-Kesseler, CEO of Nordostchemie, according to the press release.

In response to the declining number of apprentices, Nordostchemie and the Mining, Chemical, and Energy Workers’ Union of Northeast Germany launched a joint apprenticeship initiative in July 2026.