If you don't have any professional qualifications, you have to reckon with disadvantages in the working world. But what opportunities do unskilled workers have to continue their education or catch up on a degree?
No school-leaving certificate, no vocational training: nevertheless, unskilled workers have opportunities on the job market. They work, for example, in the warehouse, on the assembly line, in the cleaning area, as a helper in the kitchen or in the office. In crafts, there are also jobs for unskilled workers in certain areas.
According to statistics from the Federal Employment Agency, a good 5.5 million employees in Germany who are subject to social security contributions had the professional status of helper as of March 31, 2022. For comparison: On June 30, 2013, there were around 4.03 million people.
Even if the number of helpers has increased over the years: Among all employees subject to social security contributions - there were 34.3 million across Germany as of March 31, 2022 - they only make up a comparatively small proportion.
Typical for activities that do not require any special qualifications: Such positions are mainly advertised by temporary employment agencies. "This speeds up the job search, but it also means that a third party also earns," says Olaf Craney from the German Association for Educational and Career Counseling. But you also get such jobs through relationships, contacts or unsolicited applications.
The first contact is usually rather informal. "You go to a prospective employer and talk to them," Craney explains. Contact persons in gastronomy are, for example, the restaurant owner or in the construction sector, for example, the master bricklayer.
"Due to the lack of qualifications, it is always better in such discussions to put previous professional experience and personal strengths in the foreground," advises Christian Ludwig from the headquarters of the Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg.
However, anyone who has gotten a job without formal professional qualifications cannot necessarily feel secure from a professional point of view.
First, the pay is often comparatively poor. Second, the jobs of the unskilled are often ones that no one else wants to do. And thirdly, unskilled workers are often the first to be dismissed when a company finds itself in a crisis. "These are all good reasons for unskilled workers to get degrees or at least qualifications as quickly as possible," says Olaf Craney.
One way can be to specifically address the employer you are currently working for and ask for support with the plan to get a school diploma and an apprenticeship. The employer can turn to the employment agency and say: "I have a dedicated and motivated helper here who I would like to turn into a specialist."
In such cases, the Employment Agency provides wage subsidies. "It is often even possible that the training can be shortened if the helper has practical and theoretical experience through the work as a helper," says Olaf Craney.
"Unskilled workers can also seek advice from the local employment agency and find out about funding opportunities there," explains Christian Ludwig. Important in advance: those affected should think about their own strengths and interests in peace and be able to name them clearly.
With the Citizens' Income Act, which came into force on January 1, 2023, the opportunities for qualification, especially for the low-skilled, will be strengthened once again. The focus here is, among other things, on qualification-oriented further training.
"It is also possible to acquire a professional qualification through partial qualifications that last over a longer period of time," says Christian Ludwig. Partial qualification means: The training is completed in stages. These build on each other, each individual stage leads to a certificate.
In order to motivate unskilled workers and strengthen their perseverance in qualification-oriented further training, there will be a monthly further training allowance of 150 euros from July 1, 2023.
In addition, there are further training bonuses for passing intermediate and final examinations. If you pass an intermediate exam, the bonus is 1000 euros, if you pass the final exam there is 1500 euros.
From July 2023, anyone who takes part in further training that is not aimed at a professional qualification and lasts longer than eight weeks is entitled to the so-called citizen money bonus - it amounts to 75 euros per month for the duration of the qualification. Overall, Olaf Craney draws a positive conclusion: "There are good options for unskilled workers to obtain a school and vocational qualification."
(This article was first published on Sunday, January 15, 2023.)
