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BIBB Training Market Regions

BIBB Training Market Regions

The BIBB training market regions are a functional spatial classification identifying 52 distinct district-level training market regions, based on the mobility patterns of trainees within the dual system in Germany. (Dörsam/Schmidt 2026)

Origin/Creator: Dörsam, Michael; Schmidt, Robyn (Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training)
Method/Structure: The training market regions are defined based on data from the German vocational training statistics. The location of the training institution and the trainees’ place of residence at the time of signing the contract are used to generate the training market regions The regions encompass both commuting and relocation mobility. To exclude relocation mobility as much as possible, the training market regions are formed using only new contracts, where the straight-line distance between the trainee’s place of residence and the training institution does not exceed 50 kilometres (approximately 92% of contracts).
Methodologically, a graph-theoretical procedure involving a threshold value and multiple assignment rounds is applied. This approach which is equivalent to the one used by KROPP and SCHWENGLER to define the IAB labor market regions (see Kropp/Schwengler 2011). First, the total number of network connections for each of the 400 counties and independent cities is quantified, regardless of the direction of mobility. Next, the ratio of the network connections between each residence and training location county to the number of trainees residing in the residence county is calculated for each combination of residence and training location counties. Based on these calculated and relative connections, districts are grouped into training market regions. A district is assigned to another district if: (1) this connection represents its strongest link, (2) the connection exceeds a specified threshold, and (3) more trainees commute to the target district than remain in their own district. This assignment procedure is then applied iteratively until no further changes to the regional boundaries occur. Finally, the quality of the delineation is evaluated using the modularity measure Q from network research (see Newman/Girvan 2004).
Development/implementation for Germany: After five rounds, the result of the iterative assignment process results in 52 training market regions with district-level granularity. Theses training market regions comprise between one district (Mecklenburg Lake District, Ortenau District, and Constance) and 21 districts (Hamburg and Rhine-Main). Further they cover areas ranging from just under 26,000 km2 (Hamburg) to just over 800 km2 (Konstanz), and have resident populations (in 2024) ranging from 7,487,077 inhabitants (Düsseldorf-Cologne-Bonn) to 174,747 (Prignitz) inhabitants.
Regular reviews will be conducted in the coming years to determine whether fundamental changes in the regional boundaries have occurred over time, and these will be updated as necessary.

Keywords

mobility, Vocational Training Statistics, Spatial organisation

BIBB Training Market Regions

Fundamental literature: Dörsam, Michael; Schmidt Robyn (2026): BIBB Repport
BIBB Report 01_2026.pdf

further literature: Kropp, Per; Schwengler, Barbara: Abgrenzung von Arbeitsmarktregionen – ein Methodenvorschlag. In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning, 69 (2011) 1, S. 45-62

Newman, Mark E.J.; Girvan, Michelle: Finding and evaluating community structure in networks. In: Physical Review E 69 (2004) 026113

BIBB Training Market Regions

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