Initial Vocational Education and Training (IVET)—the vocational education undertaken before entering the labour market—plays a pivotal role in preparing (mostly young) Europeans with the skills and competences required for a successful transition into the workforce. As a cornerstone of vocational education systems, IVET not only addresses the immediate demands of the labour market, but also fosters innovation, adaptability, and social cohesion.
In recent years, the importance of IVET has grown significantly as Europe faces complex challenges, including the digital and green transitions, as well as labour shortages in key sectors. To address these evolving needs, sound and internationally comparable statistics are critical for making, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating vocational education and training (VET) policies.
What’s new in IVET? A data-driven snapshot
Cedefop’s recent article, What’s New in IVET? Key Pointers from Statistics, offers a comprehensive snapshot of IVET across Europe. It highlights key trends, identifies disparities, and provides evidence to support data-driven policymaking.
Drawing on data from the Key Indicators on VET and the European VET Policy Dashboard, sourced from the European Statistical System, the insights complement Cedefop’s broader analysis of VET policies, systems, and timelines.
Key trends and indicators: a comparative overview
The article provides a comparative statistical overview of IVET in the EU, offering a selection of critical indicators that highlight its attractiveness, quality, and labour market relevance. Key areas of focus include:
- Participation and enrolments: IVET remained a popular choice in 2022, with 49% of EU upper-secondary students enrolled, many benefiting from strong pathways to further education. Notably, 72.6% of VET upper-secondary students participated in programmes with direct access to tertiary education.
- Further learning: on average, 38.2% of VET graduates pursued additional education or training, showing that VET is not a dead-end pathway for youngsters wanting to engage in further learning.
- Internationalisation: efforts to internationalise IVET continue, with 5.1% of learners benefiting from cross-country mobility programmes.
- Work-based learning: hands-on experience remains central to IVET. In 2023, 64.5% of recent graduates gained practical skills, surpassing EU targets.
- Gender imbalances: gender disparities persist, with only 41.9% of females in upper-secondary education participating in VET programmes. Representation in STEM VET fields also remains lower for women.
- Employment outcomes: IVET graduates play a vital role in key sectors such as engineering and manufacturing, which attracted 32.7% of graduates in 2022. Their employment rate reached 81% in 2023.
Driving policy and progress with data
Robust statistical insights are essential for shaping effective VET policies at both EU and national levels. Clear, transparent, and comparative data empower stakeholders—from policymakers to learners—to make informed decisions. These insights support the EU’s broader goals of economic growth, employment, and social inclusion by fostering a resilient, future-ready workforce.
Cedefop’s Key Indicators on Vocational Education and Training (VET) and its European VET Policy Dashboard offer interactive charts and country-specific time series, aiding the continuous improvement of Europe’s vocational education systems.
As Europe faces significant transitions, IVET remains a cornerstone of innovation and social fairness. By providing evidence-based guidance, Cedefop strengthens the role of VET in building a sustainable, competitive, and inclusive future.