The medical sector is becoming increasingly attractive to young people entering vocational training in Germany. Among women, the role of medical assistant (Medizinische Fachangestellte) climbed to first place in the ranking of the most popular apprenticeship occupations, with 16,680 newly signed training contracts recorded last year. The position pushed the office management clerk down to third place, while dental assistant retained second place for the second consecutive year.
The medical assistant role is also gaining ground among men, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) announced in Bonn on Tuesday. With 1,146 newly signed training contracts, the occupation jumped 17 places in the rankings, marking what BIBB described as "the strongest annual absolute increase in new contracts in this apprenticeship occupation since 2009."
Between 2009 and 2025, "the numbers of men in this female-dominated profession have risen almost continuously," the institute added. The role was formerly known as Arzthelferin. Overall, the most popular apprenticeship among men remains unchanged, automotive mechatronics technician, with 23,007 new contracts. In second place came heating, ventilation and sanitation technician with 14,172 new contracts, followed by electrician in third place with 14,082 new contracts.
A total of 475,950 newly signed apprenticeship contracts were recorded in the BIBB survey, which had a reference date of 30 September. This represented a decline of around two percent compared to 2024. Just under two thirds of new contracts, 63.5 percent, were signed by male apprentices, while just over one third, 36.4 percent, were signed by female apprentices.
The two-year culinary specialist apprenticeship, introduced in 2022, recorded a "clear upward trend" and improved by ten places in the rankings, BIBB highlighted. The occupations of baker, civil engineering worker and road construction worker also moved significantly up the rankings. In all four of these occupations, men account for more than 75 percent of apprentices, BIBB noted.
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