Berufswahl und geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede beim Zugang zu betrieblicher Berufsausbildung

Abstract

This paper starts from the well known fact that in the German dual system of vocational education and training not only females are less represented than males but also - for those who want to enter the system - transition rates for females into the dual system are lower than for males. Firstly main findings of the literature about gender-specific differences in vocational and occupational choice are described and focused on the transition from school to the dual system. A main fact is that females only seldom take mechanical and technical vocations and not only individual but also company-based reasons could be relevant. For specific hypotheses it is analyzed in the paper how far lower transition rates for females can be explained by different vocational choices between males and females. Statistical modeling shows at first that lower transition rates for females are in fact a result of gender-specific vocational choice. Also - for those females who actually apply for technical vocations - there is evidence for a discrimination of females against males by companies. To better the chances for females in the dual system therefore not only young women have to augment their interest in technical vocations but companies and society also have to overcome still existing prejudices concerning women in mechanical and technical occupations.