Munich: The Academic Magnet of Germany
So, it seems the educated elite have a favourite watering hole, and it’s not a trendy bar in Berlin but rather the Bavarian capital, Munich. A census survey has revealed that Munich has a higher concentration of academics than, say, your cousin who posts memes about existential crises at 2 AM. With an academic proportion twice the national average, one might wonder if they’re all sipping lattes while discussing the metaphysics of trees or if they’re just really good at convincing people they know what Heidegger was talking about.
The Landscape of Education in Germany
Now, let’s dive into the sea of qualifications—or shall I say, the cornucopia of vocational training. Vocational training remains the most common qualification in Germany, with a whopping 40 percent of adults over 15 having completed some form of apprenticeship or dual training by May 2022. It’s like how everyone has a friend who claims they know how to fix a car—some actually can, and some just hang out in garages to look important.
As for those with academic qualifications? Well, the percentage is rising among the younger populace. Among the golden oldies over 65, half have embarked on the noble journey of an apprenticeship. But as we inch downwards in age, you’ll find those numbers nose-diving faster than my hopes of getting rich from playing the lottery. In fact, only 38 percent of those aged 30 to 49 can say they’ve got a vocational ticket in their back pocket.
Where the Academics Hang Their Hats
Let’s address the elephant in the room—or should I say, the overqualified squirrel? In the age group of 30 to 49, just under one-third (29 percent) have managed to wrangle an academic qualification. The national average sits at a modest 20 percent. Now, if we look closely at the census data regarding cities, Munich steals the show with 41 percent of its residents boasting some form of academic degree. The rest of the cities have clearly decided they’re just not as clever.
The Top Five Cities for Academics
- Munich (41 percent)
- Erlangen (40 percent)
- Heidelberg (39 percent)
- Bonn (37 percent)
- Freiburg (36 percent)
Got a PhD? You might want to head to Heidelberg, Jena, or Tübingen, where doctoral graduates are about as common as sausages at a summer BBQ—7 percent in Heidelberg and Jena, and 5 percent in Tübingen. Quite the academic sausage fest, if you ask me!
State of the States
When we take a step back and view the entire country, it seems that academia is a bit of a city slicker’s game. The city states of Berlin and Hamburg, each pumping out academic degrees at a rate of 32 percent, take the cake. Hesse struts in with a respectable 22 percent, while the rest of the states are left scratching their heads, wondering why they didn’t get an invitation to the smart kids’ party.
The census details were collected from good ol’ household surveys—think of it as the German version of “Family Feud,” except instead of answering ridiculous questions, they’re filling out forms about education and employment. The results were then compiled for any community with more than 10,000 inhabitants, ensuring we don’t miss out on vital information regarding your great Aunt Gertrude’s qualifications.
The Bottom Line
So, whether you’re contemplating a move to Munich or just wondering where all the clever folks have disappeared to, it seems clear that the Bavarian capital is hogging the academic limelight. It’s the New York of academia—if New York were a place where people wore lederhosen at Oktoberfest while discussing how to save the world, one thesis at a time.
In conclusion, as the statistics roll in, we realized that while vocational training is still the champion of common qualifications in Germany, academic aspirations have shifted significantly among the youth. Whether you’re a staunch supporter of vocational training or an academic overachiever, the German landscape is as diverse as a group of drunken tourists taking selfies with beer steins!
The educated elite are drawn to Munich. The census survey suggests this conclusion. In the Bavarian capital, the proportion of academics is twice as high as average. The most common qualification in the Federal Republic remains vocational training.
Vocational training continues to be the most common qualification in Germany. 40 percent of those over 15 in Germany had completed an apprenticeship or dual training as of May 15, 2022, as the Federal Statistical Office said on Wednesday with reference to the current census announced. According to the information, twelve percent had a technical school qualification. 27 percent were (still) without a vocational qualification.
In the older population groups, the proportion of people with apprenticeships or vocational training is significantly higher, while the proportion of people with academic qualifications is increasing among younger people. Among those over 65, half have completed an apprenticeship or vocational training in the dual system; in the group of 50 to 64 year olds the proportion drops slightly to 47 percent, and in the group below (30 to 49 years). significantly to 38 percent.
Academics live in these cities
The highest proportion of academics was in the 30 to 49 age group, just under a third (29 percent). The nationwide average as of the reporting date was 20 percent of all people aged 15 and over.
The census data also shows which cities have the most academics living. In Munich, 41 percent have an academic professional qualification (bachelor’s, master’s, diploma or doctorate).
The list of the top five:
- Munich (41 percent)
- Erlangen (40 percent)
- Heidelberg (39 percent)
- Bonn (37 percent)
- Freiburg (36 percent)
Doctoral graduates are most often represented in the university cities of Heidelberg (7 percent), Jena (7 percent) and Tübingen (5 percent).
When comparing the federal states, academic degrees are most common in the city states of Berlin and Hamburg (32 percent each). At 22 percent, Hesse has the highest proportion of the federal states.
The information about the population’s education and employment was collected on a sample basis in the 2022 census as part of the household survey. Results are available for communities and community associations with 10,000 or more inhabitants.
Reuters/con