Education: How do Europeans feel about vocational training?

Three-quarters of EU citizens believe that general education at an upper secondary level has a more positive image than vocational training, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.

Respondents in Sweden, Denmark and Finland agreed the most with this statement, while EU citizens in Czechia, Latvia and Romania agreed the least.

When deciding between general education and vocational training, people tend to say that advice from parents (35%) is more influential than guidance from teachers (28%).

At the bottom of the table, the perceived prestige of vocational education and training (16%) and social media (14%) are said to be some of the least influential factors in deciding which one to pursue.

What are the pros and cons of vocational education?

Half of the study’s respondents believe vocational training programmes fall short in teaching basic skills, such as literacy and digital literacy, and transversal skills like communication and critical thinking.

Respondents in Poland, Slovenia and Croatia were most likely to agree with this sentiment, while those in Estonia (32%), Sweden (34%) and Spain (35%) were least likely to do so.

On the other hand, more than eight in 10 Europeans say vocational training qualifications lead to jobs in high demand.

Furthermore, 53% of Europeans mention the need to have a job and earn money quickly as the main factor influencing young people to choose vocational training. In fact, this is the leading factor in 24 EU member states.

Gender biases impact education pathways

Gender stereotypes may limit who engages in vocational training, as 71% agree that women are often encouraged to choose general education, even if they express an interest in technical subjects.

Meanwhile, seven in 10 Europeans say that men who are not high academic achievers face more pressure than women to choose vocational training over general education.

In addition, more than half of respondents say that men in caregiving or service-related vocational education and training fields face social stigma, revealing constraints on pathway choices for both genders.

The highest levels of agreement with this statement were found in Poland, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands, while Cyprus, Portugal, and Greece recorded the lowest.