Significant changes are coming to the confectionery apprenticeship program in Austria. From January 1, 2027, the final apprenticeship examination will be more closely aligned with real-world business practices. At the same time, current master craftsman figures show a positive trend: 112 master craftsman examinations were successfully completed in the confectionery trade in 2025, compared to 95 the previous year. This represents an increase of approximately 18 percent.

Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner used a visit to the traditional Linz confectionery Jindrak to talk about the future of vocational training, new career opportunities and securing skilled workers.

“An apprenticeship is not a plan B, but a career path with a future,” Hattmannsdorfer emphasized. Training must be more closely aligned with the skills that companies actually need.

112 new master confectioners

The trend in master craftsman examinations is particularly striking. Of the 112 master craftsman certificates issued in 2025, 104 went to women.

Since 2018, the master craftsman's examination has been classified at level 6 of the National Qualifications Framework, placing it at the same qualification level as a bachelor's degree. For graduates, it opens the door to self-employment and the opportunity to train apprentices, among other things.

This development is also relevant for the industry because master craftsmen will be needed even more in the future as trainers, business successors and entrepreneurs.

New exam from 2027

The apprenticeship package 1/2026 modernized a total of 14 apprenticeship trades. This includes confectionery/sugar baking.

A new apprenticeship examination will come into effect on January 1, 2027. The focus will be more strongly on practical work in the workplace. Candidates will first create a written planning concept and then implement it in practice.

The requirements for the products to be manufactured are also more clearly defined. These include sliced and celebration cakes, petits fours, chocolates, tea biscuits, and plate desserts, primarily in the patisserie category.

Also new is the presentation of self-made products. This means that, in addition to craftsmanship, customer focus and sales skills will be a more prominent part of the examination.

Fewer apprentices in Austria

The reform comes at a time when the number of apprentices is declining. At the end of 2025, 102,878 young people were in apprenticeship training across Austria. That was 3.4 percent fewer than a year earlier.

The confectionery industry also experienced a decline. The number of apprentices fell from 963 in 2024 to 917 in 2025. This means the industry lost 46 apprentices within a single year.

At the same time, demographic trends are intensifying the competition for young talent. The number of people of working age reached its highest level to date in 2024 at 5.57 million. By 2040, it is expected to decline by around 256,000 people.

“We are facing the largest wave of retirements in our history,” said Hattmannsdorfer. Competition for well-trained specialists will therefore intensify for businesses.

10 million euros for “apprenticeship with high school diploma”

Additional educational pathways are intended to make apprenticeships more attractive. A further 10 million euros are being allocated to the " Apprenticeship with University Entrance Qualification " program. A total of 51 million euros is available for adult education.

The program offers apprentices free preparation for the vocational baccalaureate exam. Alongside their vocational training, they can acquire a qualification that opens up further educational opportunities.

Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner sees this as a key component of a more flexible education system. "An apprenticeship must not be a dead end," she emphasized during her visit to Linz.

With the vocational diploma, graduates of apprenticeships can later attend universities, universities of applied sciences and other further education institutions.

Confectionery businesses need new talent

Two trends are currently converging in the confectionery trade: the number of apprentices is declining, while the number of successful master craftsman examinations is rising significantly. The 112 master craftsman qualifications awarded in 2025 alone demonstrate the career advancement opportunities that vocational training can offer.

With the more practically oriented apprenticeship examination starting in 2027 and additional investments in "apprenticeship with university entrance qualification," vocational training is to be further enhanced. However, the crucial task for businesses remains attracting enough young people to the confectionery trade and offering them long-term prospects from apprenticeship completion to master craftsman certification and business succession.