Mental Health: A Key Factor for Vocational Training Success

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Mental Health Risks and Dropout Rates

According to the Bertelsmann Stiftung and IW survey, roughly 15 percent—or one in seven trainees—report a worryingly poor state of wellbeing. This psychological strain correlates directly with career disruption. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of trainees with severely limited wellbeing seriously consider dropping out of their programs, compared to just 12 percent of those with stable wellbeing. Trainees who have either dropped out or contemplated doing so most frequently cite psychological stress as the primary catalyst.

While approximately 90 percent of surveyed trainees express overall satisfaction with their education in the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s “Ausbildungsperspektiven 2026” survey, mental health risks remain high. Among employers, 62 percent state that psychological strain diminishes trainee productivity. When an apprenticeship ends prematurely, the risk increases for young people to remain without a formal vocational qualification long-term. For businesses, the fallout includes lost talent and wasted investments, averaging roughly 20.000 Euro je Ausbildungsabbruch according to the organizations.

“The mental health of trainees is an essential foundation for a successful apprenticeship,” says Fabian Schaffer, vocational training expert at the Bertelsmann Stiftung. “Psychological burdens not only negatively affect the wellbeing of those affected, but also their productivity in the company and increase the risk of dropping out of training. It is therefore in the self-interest of companies to take psychological burdens seriously and organize appropriate support.”

Economic Impact and Workplace Support Gaps

The broader economic footprint of mental health challenges is substantial. Health insurance records show that trainees experience absences due to mental illness at rates similar to other workers.

Many firms already implement workplace initiatives, offering health information, sports and prevention courses, stress management training, or internal contact points. However, such measures appear much less frequently in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) than in large corporations with at least 250 employees. Furthermore, only slightly more than a third of trainees know about individual support programs within their own company. Compounding the issue, 35 percent of trainees avoid discussing mental stress out of fear of professional disadvantages.

Experts recommend that businesses foster open communication regarding mental health and expand prevention offers tailored to apprentices. SMEs require external support to achieve this. Creating a trusting environment helps identify and address problems early. Training companies should encourage staff to address issues openly to find solutions before conflicts or dropouts occur. Roughly half of surveyed businesses identify a need for additional continuing education measures for instructors to handle these situations effectively.

Calls for Preventive Action Across Educational Sectors

Systemic intervention is becoming a priority for educational stakeholders. “A third of training companies report an increase in conflicts and problems during training,” says Dirk Werner, training expert at the IW. “The companies’ biggest wish to strengthen mental health is better prevention at school and vocational school to promote the start of training and a successful training course.”

Study authors argue that safeguarding mental health requires coordinated efforts across the entire vocational education network. Schools can build resilience early, while vocational schools and employers must recognize stress factors faster and react jointly. Chambers, social partners, educational providers, and advisory centers can provide targeted assistance, particularly for SMEs. Policymakers face pressure to establish reliable frameworks that ease access to prevention and counseling.

Broader societal indicators also show rising distress. The proportion of children and adolescents between 7 and 21 years old in Germany reporting psychological distress increased from 18 percent in 2017 to 23 percent in 2025. To raise public awareness around these challenges, the Bertelsmann Stiftung and civil society partners launched the Mental Health Alliance.

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