Stress in Vocational Training: Conflicts, Pressure, and Thoughts of Quitting
Stress in vocational training (Ausbildung) is widespread: half of all Auszubildende (apprentices) feel mentally strained. If you have conflicts at your company, you can get free help from the training advisors at your chamber, the youth and apprentice representation, and the trade union youth organization. Before you quit, it is worth talking to one of them.
How strained are apprentices?
About half feel mentally strained. Many find no one to talk to at work or at vocational school.
In the 2026 training report by DGB-Jugend (the youth organization of the German Trade Union Confederation), with 13,227 respondents from the 25 most common occupations, 50.6% say they feel mentally strained. 41.7% of those who feel strained said there was no one they could talk to about it. The question asked about the company, the vocational school and counseling services; family and friends were not among the options. About a third (35.4%) regularly work overtime.
A 2026 survey by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the German Economic Institute (IW) paints a similar picture. Almost 20% feel emotionally strained by their training almost always or often. Around one in seven apprentices surveyed reports a worryingly poor sense of well-being.
| What causes strain at the training workplace | Share of apprentices who find it very stressful (DGB 2026) |
|---|---|
| Pressure to perform and time pressure | 20.9% |
| Staff shortages | 19.6% |
| Pressure of responsibility | 19.2% |
On top of that come private worries. More than half mention personal strain, most often money and housing.
How many training contracts are ended early?
Almost three in ten contracts, but that is not a dropout rate.
According to the data report of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), around 159,000 training contracts were ended early in 2024. The rate of contract terminations was 29.7%. A good third of them happened during the probation period. The BIBB stresses that about half of those affected sign a new training contract soon afterward.
So a contract that ends is often a change, not the end of the training.
Who helps with conflicts at the company?
The training advisors at your chamber, the JAV, and the trade union youth organization, all free of charge.
| Problem | Where to go | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks unrelated to your training, lack of guidance, trouble with your trainer | Training advisors at your chamber (IHK, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Handwerkskammer, the Chamber of Crafts, and others) | Section 76 BBiG |
| Overtime, working hours, conflicts in the team | Jugend- und Auszubildendenvertretung (JAV, the youth and apprentice representation) or the Betriebsrat (works council) | Section 60 and Section 70 BetrVG |
| Legal questions if there is no JAV | Dr. Azubi from DGB-Jugend, free of charge. Questions and answers appear publicly in the forum, so choose a made-up name and do not name your company | |
| A dispute that cannot be resolved | Arbitration board of the chamber or Innung (local trade guild) | Section 111 ArbGG |
| Fear of not completing your training | Assistierte Ausbildung (assisted vocational training) from the Federal Employment Agency | Section 74 SGB III |
The chamber is required by the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) to appoint advisors who supervise training and give advice. They advise apprentices just as they advise the company. You can find their contact details on your chamber's website, usually under "Ausbildungsberatung" (training advice).
A JAV exists in companies with a works council and at least five young employees or apprentices. It takes up your concerns and brings them to the works council. According to the DGB report, apprentices at companies with employee representation feel very strained much less often: 59.3% report no severe strain, compared with 39.7% at companies without one.
The arbitration board matters if your contract is being terminated. If your chamber has one, you have to go to it before you can file a claim at the labor court.
If you would probably struggle to complete your training without support: Assistierte Ausbildung gives you a dedicated training mentor who supports you individually, including at your company. Ask the career counseling service at your local Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) about it.
What applies if I want to quit?
During probation at any time, after that with four weeks' notice if you give up the training or switch occupations. Always in writing.
Under Section 22 BBiG, the training relationship can be ended during probation without notice. After that, you can quit with four weeks' notice if you want to give up the training or learn a different occupation. The notice has to be in writing on paper; an email is not enough. After probation, you have to state the reason in it, meaning that you are giving up the training or switching occupations.
Before you quit, it is worth talking to the chamber or the JAV. A conflict can often be resolved, or a move to another company can be prepared without losing time.
When the pressure takes a toll on your mental health
Talk to someone before you make the decision on your own.
If you have been sleeping badly for weeks, dread every workday, or keep thinking about quitting, that is a sign to look for support. According to the DGB report, 48.7% of apprentices who feel very strained in more than two areas always or often think about quitting.
Free places to turn to:
- Nummer gegen Kummer (a free, anonymous helpline for children and young people): the Kinder- und Jugendtelefon (children's and youth helpline) at 116 111 is there for children and young people, Monday to Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m., anonymous and free.
- TelefonSeelsorge (a free crisis line, 24/7, in German): available at 0800 111 0 111, and after registering also as a chat.
- Your family doctor or a psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde (initial psychotherapy consultation): if you suspect you are ill. The 116 117 (the national patient service number) arranges the consultation. How this works is explained in the article Finding a Therapy Slot as a Student: What You Can Do While You Wait. The same steps apply to apprentices.
If you are at least 18 and want to talk to someone soon, psychological counseling at Studifit is an addition to these services. We counsel apprentices just as we counsel students, by video and, depending on availability, in the evening too, for example about pressure at your company or whether to continue your training. We do not replace legal advice; that is what the chamber and the trade union are for. Studifit is psychological counseling, not psychotherapy. It is not covered by health insurance, and we make no diagnoses. If you have a mental illness, please keep looking for a therapist at the same time. You can find our prices on the pricing page.
In an acute crisis
If you are thinking about suicide or are in danger, call the TelefonSeelsorge at 0800 111 0 111 or the emergency number 112. You can find more numbers on the page Help in a crisis.
Sources
- DGB-Jugend (2026): Ausbildungsreport 2026, Schwerpunkt mentale Gesundheit (Training report 2026, focus on mental health) (in German)
- Bertelsmann Stiftung and IW (2026): Pressemitteilung: Die mentale Gesundheit von Auszubildenden stärken (Press release: strengthening the mental health of apprentices) (in German)
- Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (2026): Datenreport zum Berufsbildungsbericht 2026 (Data report on the 2026 vocational training report) (in German)
- Section 22 and Section 76 BBiG, Section 60 and Section 70 BetrVG, Section 111 ArbGG, Section 74 SGB III (in German)
- DGB-Jugend: Dr. Azubi (in German)
- Nummer gegen Kummer: Kinder- und Jugendtelefon (Children's and youth helpline) (in German)
All information in this article was carefully researched, but we cannot guarantee that it is complete or up to date. Services, waiting times and legal rules can change. As of October 2026.
