In a study by Germany’s Institute for Employment Research (IAB), almost half of the young respondents interested in vocational training (Ausbildung) said they could imagine moving for a suitable training place. Among those who were not willing to move or were unsure, the most frequently cited reasons were wanting to stay close to family and familiar surroundings, as well as high housing costs.
- 47% of respondents interested in Ausbildung considered moving possible; 41% did not want to move and 13% were undecided.
- Among those unwilling to move or unsure, 57% cited being close to family and familiar surroundings, while 56% cited high housing costs.
- The findings cover IAB study participants from the 2024 graduating classes who had sought guidance from the Federal Employment Agency.
Willingness to move varied
According to IAB, 33% of respondents considered moving within their local area, while 14% considered moving anywhere within Germany. The share who could imagine moving varied by school type: it was 64% among young people preparing for the Abitur and 38% among students in graduating classes at Hauptschule.
Among those who were not willing to move or were unsure, 57% said they wanted to stay close to family, friends or familiar surroundings. High housing costs elsewhere were cited by 56% of this group. Long or expensive trips home were also mentioned as obstacles: 24% of those unwilling to move or unsure named each of these factors.
Who took part in the study
The “BeYou – Berufswahl und Du” study is based on about 6,300 young people in 2024 graduating classes who had used guidance services from the Federal Employment Agency (BA). For this article, IAB analyses participants who were interested in vocational training.
Young people with no prior contact with the BA were not included in the study. IAB also notes that the findings cannot be applied to all school leavers or to everyone who uses the agency’s guidance services. The figures therefore describe only the study’s target group.
Information sources
- IAB-Forum: Study on barriers to moving for vocational training Source publication date: 22 October 2026.