Career chances through professional training

Numerous media outlets have reported on the current tense situation on the German labor market in recent days, and politicians are also concerned about it.

But if you look beyond the headlines, the picture for 2026 is one full of opportunities and new possibilities for professional fulfillment.

Professional development in particular is proving to be a real career booster. According to a recent report by the DIHK, around 80% of graduates of higher vocational education benefit from the noticeable positive effects of continuing education on their careers. For 60%, continuing professional development has a direct impact on their paychecks, while more than half move up to more responsible positions with greater personnel and budget responsibility.

One thing is clear: the prospects on the job market are not particularly positive at the moment, and continuing education is not a miracle cure for finding a new job, but it does bring new opportunities and possibilities.

We were also interested in the following topics:

• Inclusion in practice: According to a study by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, only 0.35% of workshop employees in Germany make the leap into the regular job market. Inclusion companies show that participation can still be successful through simplified work systems and targeted wage subsidies.

• Boom in experts: The number of highly qualified women in the job market has risen by 43% in the last 10 years, significantly more than for men. According to IW Cologne, however, around 40% of unemployed female academics are looking for jobs below their actual qualification level. In order to make better use of this potential, flexible working models and targeted talent promotion are becoming increasingly important.

• Global labor market: As Merkur reports, despite the difficult labor market situation, more and more Chinese graduates are returning to their home country after studying abroad. Over 80% of those returning home have a master's degree and hope to find work in the growing technology sector with a focus on AI and robotics.

This text first appeared as an editorial in the weekly politjobs newsletter. If you would like to receive this newsletter with the latest jobs in politics directly by email every Wednesday, you can subscribe to it here.