Vocational training and securing young talents

DB Group is one of Germany’s largest vocational training providers with about 50 apprenticeship professions and 25 dual-degree study programs. We see vocational training and recruiting young talents as a central pillar of securing a skilled workforce. The aim is to give young talents long-term career prospects within DB Group.

• New hires of vocational trainees and dual-degree students: About 5,200 vocational trainees and dual-degree students started vocational training or a dual study program in DB Group in 2025. One focal point remains the training occupations of railway employee in operational services for train driving/transport, railway employee in train service controlling, and industrial/technical vocational training occupations.
• School partnerships: DB Group maintains over 770 active school partnerships throughout Germany to support young people at an early stage of their career orientation. About 20 community recruiters regularly visit the partner schools, conduct workshops and provide practical insights into vocational training and study opportunities within DB Group. In 2025, 135 participants also successfully completed the “Chance plus” introductory training program.
• Vocational preparation and qualification: DB Group promotes vocational preparation and qualification in technical and digital professions through practical formats and targeted work with young talents. In addition to traditional student internships, the Internship Lab offers a wide range of insights into various professions within DB Group in a compact two-week format. Interactive formats such as escape games, station tours and diversity workshops at schools bring job profiles to life and break down role stereotypes. Vocational trainee ambassadors present professions in an engaging and accessible manner, supplemented by trade fair formats and the marketing suitcase with educational games and exhibits.
• Support and networking: For support and networking within DB Group, all young talents are invited to become members of the DB Youngster Community, which is implemented together with the Bahnsozialwerk/Eisenbahnwaisenhort Foundation Family. As of December 31, 2025, the community had 13,376 members. In 2025, 103 formats were held in person or virtually, with a total of 1,545 participants. The content is wide-ranging, from learning strategies and dealing with money to the DB Youngster Festival.
• Rail vocational trainees against hate and violence: The “Rail vocational trainees against hate and violence” competition celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025. It aims to send out a strong signal for cosmopolitanism and tolerance. 345 young talents took part in 51 projects in 2025.
• Basic qualification for trainers: The trainers at DB Group play a significant role in the quality of initial vocational training. More than 1,150 employees took part in the basic qualification in 2025. In addition, more than 4,500 employees involved in initial vocational training took part in 58 “Coffee&Learn” formats organized by the initial vocational training community on topics such as math support for vocational trainees, anti-discrimination, support concepts and interview systems.
• Digital vocational training support: The Group-wide rollout of a vocational training management tool is continuing in order to further expand digital vocational training support. In 2025, the number of users increased to about 4,400 (previous year: about 3,700 users).

¹⁾ Includes all vocational training years (usually three training years for vocational trainees and dual-degree students).
²⁾ Group-wide program established in 2025, hence no figures for previous years. 
³⁾ Previous year’s figures adjusted due to change in definition. Since 2025, trainees have not been listed as young talents, as they are now classified as employees. At the same time, working students are now reported as young talents as their employment has a predominantly training character.

Figures correspond to the respective career objective.

Germany (Group companies account for about 98 % of domestic employees).
Hired after completion of vocational training or dual-degree studies.