Germany’s Youth Face a Growing Education Gap
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Education at a Glance report, the education gap among young adults in Germany is steadily increasing. While universities perform strongly on the international stage, the growing number of people without formal schooling or vocational training is raising concerns.
The study found that 15 percent of young adults aged 25–34 last year had neither an entrance qualification for higher education nor vocational training. This figure is two percentage points higher than in 2019. Within the European Union, only Italy, Portugal, and Spain are in a worse position than Germany in this regard.
At the same time, the share of young adults holding a university or vocational academy degree rose from 33 percent to 40 percent. This indicates a widening gap between those with higher education and those without qualifications.The report highlights that German universities are successful internationally and that STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), which are critical for industry, continue to attract strong interest. However, OECD experts warn that the growing number of unqualified individuals at the lower end of society could pose serious social and economic risks.