Bildungsgutscheinen

Bildungsgutscheine are a form of voucher-based funding used in Germany as part of active labor market policy. A Bildungsgutschein is issued by the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) or its local offices to eligible job seekers or workers at risk of long-term unemployment who need qualification or retraining to improve prospects on the labor market.

A voucher covers the costs of an approved training measure offered by a registered training provider (Bildungsträger) and is intended to ensure that the training leads to employment. The voucher sets the scope: the provider, the duration, and the content of the training; it may also cover additional costs related to the training such as travel or materials, depending on the measure and rules.

Eligibility and process: Applicants undergo an assessment with an employment adviser. If the adviser deems retraining or further education necessary and likely to improve employability, a Bildungsgutschein is issued. The recipient then chooses an approved training provider and enrolls. The provider issues an offer, and the agency approves the measure before it starts; the agency typically pays the provider directly.

Types of measures: vocational qualifications, retraining, language courses relevant to work, or skills upgrading. The aim is to qualify for a new occupation or to upgrade existing qualifications.

Impact and criticisms: The program is a central instrument of active labor market policy in Germany, intended to increase employment chances and prevent skill gaps. Critics point to bureaucratic hurdles, regional disparities in access, and variable success depending on the provider and field.