Anlernkarriere oder Berufsausbildung? Produktionsarbeit in der chemischen Industrie im deutsch-französischen Vergleich

Abstract

The subject of this article is on conditions and patterns of worker careers in similar German and French industrial companies from the perspective of the participation options that they (may) open up to employees. On the one hand, the aim is to revise relevant comparative studies from the 1970s, which established the effectiveness of a "societal effect". According to these studies, by successfully completing an initial vocational training employees in Germany acquired a qualification that is transferable in professionally structured labour markets and at the same time opened up access to advanced vocational training with qualifications as a master craftsman, technician or graduate engineer. In contrast, professional development in French companies was presented as a training career and as the result of company selection and promotion decisions, and thus to a large extent tied to the company. Production work in the chemical industry however represents an area in which these differences did not apply back then, whereas they do today. Similarly new labour requirements were taken into account in Germany through the expansion of dual vocational training to include former trainee jobs, whereas in France these were retained. In both countries, these contrasting developments go hand in hand with a trend towards higher entry requirements and the increasing importance of vocational certificates. The article is directly related to the simultaneously presented Working Paper 2023-30 by Bénédicte Zimmermann and the author.