Continued Shortfall in German Apprenticeships Expected

German companies are still not offering enough apprenticeships for young people as the economy remains weak and staff cuts continue, the Berliner Zeitung newspaper reported, citing the Federal Institute for Vocational Training. According to the paper, the institute estimations show that there will be a shortfall of between 30,000 and 35,000 apprenticeships this fall. The German government and business groups last month signed an agreement to include an additional 30,000 young people in training programs, allowing lawmakers to put on hold a bill for companies to provide apprenticeships or face fines.