The Central Association of German Trades (ZDH) is encouraging the integration of apprenticeships for those fulfilling their military service. According to a report in the newspaper “Bild”, the group suggests establishing vocational guidance and skills development opportunities within trades while individuals are in the armed forces. A spokesman for the ZDH told the newspaper that potential offerings could include stays ranging from one to several days.
The association believes that enhancing the collaboration between the trades sector and the German Armed Forces presents an opportunity to guide young people toward specific trade profiles early on. This, they argue, could inspire interest in skilled trades and subsequent apprenticeships. Currently, military service exposes personnel to diverse industrial, technical, and craft-related tasks-such as constructing temporary roads and bridges, maintaining vehicles, or securing energy and water supply systems.
Furthermore, the text notes that military duty also strengthens cross-functional competencies, including teamwork, reliability, and resilience, skills that are also vital within businesses. Therefore, closer cooperation could assist in attracting young people to apprenticeships within the trades, which in turn would help counteract the temporary shortage of skilled and semi-skilled laborers within the personnel-intensive trades sector.
