The catalogue comprises all 328 recognised training professions in the sectors of industry and crafts, public service, home economics, agriculture and maritime shipping as well as the "liberal professions". The volume provides information on training periods, legal bases, the assignment to the German Qualifications Framework (DQR - Deutscher Qualifikationsrahmen), and the 17 training professions that have been modernised for the new training year 2016. These latter include training courses for machine specialists, wood mechanics, notary clerks as well as tailors.

The statistics section provides accurate data on the number and quantitative development of the training professions as well as the numbers of trainees since 1970. The catalogue is published by the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB - Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung) every year since 1977.