Yes, I would like to add that it's not only a problem of the number of apprenticeship spots that are available, but it's also the demographic development in Germany. We have fewer and fewer young people obtaining their school leaving degree. That's why it is important to keep apprenticeships attractive. That's why our federal ministry started a new campaign last year called “Practically Unbeatable”. This campaign is aimed at informing young people in the schools, in the youth centres, about this option of learning a trade to make sure we have a sufficient number of skilled labourers in the future.
On February 5th, 2013. See this statement in context.