Marked contrasts in the prestige of dual vocational training occupations in Germany

In Germany, the vocational education and training (VET) system and the labour market are organised by occupation; a person’s occupation is a key factor in determining income and career prospects and structures the processes of job searching and recruitment. Society has very different perceptions of the prestige of different occupations. Occupational prestige plays a role for young people when choosing an occupation and when it comes to filling apprenticeship places. This article presents the initial findings from a current BIBB study regarding the occupational prestige of the 25 largest occupations in the dual VET system.