The results of the latest wbmonitor survey show that continuing education and training reached a peak of economic activity in 2016. Organisations providing language and technical qualifications for refugees were notable in experiencing significant developments.

The results of the latest wbmonitor ) survey show that continuing education and training reached a peak of economic activity in 2016. Organisations providing language and technical qualifications for refugees were notable in experiencing significant developments.  

Training providers, funded predominantly by employment agencies and job centres, reported an increased demand for their services; they benefitted from introductory courses delivering basic knowledge of German, funded by the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) from the end of 2015 onwards. The wbmonitor 2016 statistics show increasing participation in activation and integration measures by individuals from non-European countries seeking asylum. These measures aim at familiarising participants with the German labour market.

Organisations financed predominantly by municipalities, federal states, the Federal Government and the EU also experienced increased demand, which was most likely influenced by the expansion in qualification measures for refugees. This group of organisations includes a large number of adult education centres running integration courses on behalf of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge). Admission numbers increased sharply in the first six months of 2016 compared to the same period in the preceding year.

Economic confidence among providers working for companies continued to be high, benefiting from the fact that many companies used the positive economic climate to provide training and qualifications for their employees. Organisations financed predominantly by participation rates or by self-payers also achieved a clear positive outlook compared to 2015.

For the future, training providers offering continuing education and training for refugees can be especially optimistic. Following the acquisition of language skills, additional initial and continuing vocational education and training for refugees - funded under the social security code - are helping to respond to the emerging shortage of skilled workers.

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wbmonitor’ is a cooperation project  of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning.  Their annual surveys among providers of general and vocational continuing education and training contribute to making the continuing education and training landscape more transparent and highlighting changes.

wbmonitor – the continuing education and training landscape from the provider perspective
Kulturelle Vielfalt Ergebnisse der wbmonitor Umfrage