business-people-shaking-hands-together-1741791113596906.jpg

What is the Qualifizierungschancengesetz (QCG)?


The Qualifizierungschancengesetz (QCG) is a German law that has been in effect since January 1, 2019. The Qualifizierungschancengesetz is a legal regulation in Germany that aims to improve employees' qualifications through targeted Weiterbildungsmaßnahmen (training measures) to address the challenges posed by structural change and technological advancement.

The Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency) as a company takes on the costs of improving the qualifications of your employees. Depending on the conditions, up to 100% of the training costs and all or part of the wage costs during the Weiterbildung (training) can be covered.

Whether it's digitalization, decarbonization, or other challenges, almost every company has a need for Weiterbildung (training). Especially small and micro enterprises often lack sufficient resources to implement these measures independently. In this regard, QCG offers valuable support, tailored to your needs and backed by the government!

Qualifizierungschancengesetz For more information, click here.

Who Can Benefit from QCG Support?


Are you working under social insurance without having a vocational qualification? Or do you have a vocational qualification but have been working in a different job for more than four years in total?

  While receiving your full salary, acquire a new vocational qualification for the future (including preparation for Externenprüfung) or a recognized Teilqualifikation (TQ) - this can be done at a certified training institution or within your employer's organization (only for vocational qualifications).

  Basically, all employees, especially those affected by structural change, are eligible for support. The support may include individual counseling and financial assistance for Weiterbildungsmaßnahmen (training measures).

  QCG supports a variety of qualification-enhancing measures, including vocational training, retraining, language courses, and more. The exact support conditions depend on the individual situation.

  QCG, employees have the opportunity to expand their qualifications, secure their employability, and better prepare for the demands of the job market.

Who can benefit from the QCG?


  • Low-skilled employees who want to acquire additional qualifications or professional skills.
  • Employees working in professions with a shortage of specialists.
  • Older employees who want to maintain their employability.
  • Employees affected by structural changes in jobs.
  • Employees working in sectors facing a shortage of specialists.
  • Employees affected by areas like digitalization and carbon reduction.
  • Employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) because these companies can receive higher levels of support.
  • Newly hired employees who need reskilling.


The QCG provides financial support to help businesses and employees adapt to new technological developments and remain competitive.

 Managers, especially in areas such as leadership, product management, online marketing, and data science, can be supported with training. These types of qualification measures help businesses better prepare for technological change. Low-skilled employees can be supported by QCG to increase their employability chances. Individual counseling helps identify suitable Weiterbildungsmaßnahmen (training measures).

 The QCG is open to employees of all ages. It is especially a great opportunity for older employees to adapt to digital transformation and maintain their employability. Newly hired employees can be qualified under QCG. This support is particularly valuable when they need training in areas where they lack experience. Additionally, the same employee can take multiple Weiterbildungen (trainings) under the QCG. It is possible to implement several measures to improve qualifications and skills.The QCG is also open to SMEs. These businesses can apply for financial support for training costs to improve their employees' qualifications and competencies.

 Furthermore, the support helps employees at risk of dismissal in shaping their career. Finally, the program is aimed at employees who have completed their previous qualification training at least four years ago. The QCG is managed by the Federal Employment Agency and only covers training that supports advancement in the current occupational field. Professional transition training for different sectors is not supported under this program.

What Conditions Must Businesses Meet to Receive Support?


 Businesses must demonstrate that Weiterbildungen (further training) enhance employees' qualifications and improve their professional opportunities. Businesses of all sizes and industries can benefit from support, provided that the Weiterbildungsmaßnahmen (training measures) contribute to ensuring long-term competitive strength and adapting to new technological developments.

 Vocational training, retraining, and qualification-enhancing measures are particularly supported in areas crucial for the future success of companies, such as digital skills and soft skills.

The law applies across industries. However, there are special support programs for industries particularly affected by structural changes.

How can a company apply for Qualifizierungsgeld ?


You must submit the application for support under the Qualifizierungschancengesetz to the Agentur für Arbeit’s Arbeitgeber-Service (Employer Service) before the course begins. You can reach this service at 0800 4 555520 (toll-free).

Since the Agentur für Arbeit has a strong interest in preventing employees from becoming unemployed, it is generally open to providing support.

To apply, you must first fill out an Erhebungsbogen (survey form) containing details about the employer and the employee. This form consists of two pages and takes no more than 15 minutes to complete. The Agentur für Arbeit then checks whether the requirements of the Qualifizierungschancengesetz are met.Afterward, you will receive a Bildungsgutschein (Education Voucher), which consists of several pages and must be completed. This takes approximately 30 minutes.

 Additionally, you need to officially apply for the Arbeitsentgeltzuschuss (Wage Subsidy), which takes at most 20 minutes. In total, you need about 2 hours to complete all application documents. Given that the support is often worth thousands of euros, this is a very reasonable investment.

 Processing your application by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit usually takes four to six weeks. The exact duration depends on the complexity of the Weiterbildungsmaßnahme (training measure). Please note that a consultation with the Bundesagentur für Arbeit must take place before submitting the application.

 The application process consists of several steps: First, the Weiterbildungsbedarf (need for further training) is determined, followed by a consultation with the Agentur für Arbeit. Then, the required documents are submitted. Once approved, the Weiterbildung (further training) can begin. Each step is carefully coordinated to ensure a smooth process.

The following steps are required for the application:

  • Approval of the Weiterbildung by the relevant employees.
  • Proof of the Weiterbildungsbedarf due to structural changes.
  • Signing of a Betriebsvereinbarung (company agreement) or Tarifvertrag (collective labor agreement).

Is it required that employees continue to be paid during Weiterbildung?


Die Vergütung (salary) remains unchanged. However, das QCG provides Lohnkostenzuschüsse (wage cost subsidies) to reduce the financial burden on employers. The amount of support depends on the Unternehmensgröße (company size) and the type of Weiterbildung (training).

Die Höhe der Förderung (amount of support) is as follows:

  • Kleine Unternehmen (<10 Mitarbeiter): Up to 100% of Weiterbildungskosten (training costs), up to 75% of Lohnkosten (wage costs).
  • Mittlere Unternehmen (10–249 Mitarbeiter): 50–100% of Weiterbildungskosten, up to 50% of Lohnkosten.
  • Große Unternehmen (ab 250 Mitarbeiter): Up to 50% of Weiterbildungskosten, up to 25% of Lohnkosten.

You can find detailed information about the Bundesagentur für Arbeit’s Qualifizierungsoffensive here.

Uniform Table
Micro Enterprises
< 10 Employees		 Small and Medium Enterprises
< 250 Employees		 Large Enterprises
> 250 Employees		 Corporation
> 2500 Employees
Wage Subsidy During Training Up to 75% Up to 50%
up to 100% for employees aged 45+
and those with severe disabilities		 Up to 25% Up to 25%
up to 20% for company agreements
or collective bargaining agreements with training elements
Reimbursement of Training Costs Up to 100% Up to 50% Up to 25% Up to 15%
Up to 100% for employees without professional qualifications or with severe disabilities

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Typically, companies agree with their employees on about 20 hours per week for further training. However, it is possible to adjust the number of hours individually.

If a participant discontinues the Maßnahme, this may have an impact on the Förderung. Das Unternehmen (the company) is generally required to explain why the Weiterbildung was not completed. In some cases, a partial repayment of the Förderung may be required.

Supported Weiterbildungen:

  • Trainings that prepare for jobs emerging due to digital transformation,
  • Training that provide new professional qualifications,
  • Training that acquire qualifications beyond the current role.

Weiterbildung must be carried out by a certified provider. These are typically training institutions certified under the Akkreditierungs- und Zulassungsverordnung Arbeitsförderung (AZAV). It is recommended to have a consultation beforehand to ensure that the measure is eligible for support. Weiterbildung must last at least 120 hours. Additionally, the information conveyed should go beyond simple, workplace-specific adaptations.

Large companies typically have their own Weiterbildung programs. Thanks to the support under QCG, these programs can be expanded, and Weiterbildung costs can be significantly reduced.

Since large companies have more employees, they generally benefit more from the available support. Although the support amount per person may be lower than for small businesses, the overall savings can be significant due to the larger number of supported employees.

In small businesses, the Bundesagentur für Arbeit can cover 100% of the Weiterbildung costs. Since staff shortages often occur during Weiterbildung, up to 75% of the wage costs can be reimbursed.

Small businesses often lack the resources to hire external specialist staff, so they can remain competitive by training their employees through Weiterbildung. Additionally, the shortage of specialists is particularly noticeable in small businesses. With targeted qualification measures, employees can be retained in the long term and better prepared for future challenges.