Spain: rise in women's VET participation.

The government's efforts to transform and modernise vocational training over the last six years have contributed to a new record in enrolment figure of 1 193 260 students in the 2024/25 academic year. Although females still participate more in upper secondary general education, more and more are engaging in VET programmes.

Female presence in VET rising

The 'Equality in Figures' report, published in March 2025 by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, analyses the 2022/23 academic year from a gender perspective. It highlights a steady rise in female enrolment and completion rates across various levels of VET in Spain, with female graduates in some cases outnumbering their male counterparts.

Of the 26 professional branches into which VET in Spain is organised, the highest proportion of women is found in personal image, health, textiles, and sociocultural and community services. Branches with the lowest female representation are installation and maintenance, transport, electricity and electronics, and mechanical manufacturing.

At the intermediate-level VET (EQF 3), the percentage of female students rose from 43.9% in 2012/13 to 45.7% in 2022/23. The percentage at the higher-level VET (EQF 5) has remained stable over the past decade, although the number of female students increased significantly from 161 981 to 280 011. 

In distance learning, the proportion of women exceeds that of men at both levels: 66.1% at the intermediate-level (compared to 42.6 % in face-to-face learning) and 62.2% at the higher-level (compared to 45.0% in face-to-face learning).

At the intermediate-level, this increase is evident across most professional branches, with the most notable differences in agriculture; administration and management and the food industry.

At the higher-level, the greatest differences in the proportion of women by learning method and professional branch are found in chemistry and administration and management. Computer science and communications stands out as the second branch with the highest distance learning weight at this level.

Female academic excellence in VET

The report also shows that a higher percentage of women than men obtain EQF5 vocational qualifications (37.0% compared to 33.4%), and this figure has increased by 10 percentage points over the last decade. Completion rates in intermediate-level VET are nearly equal, at 27.7% for women and 27.8% for men.

2024/25 data confirm upward trend

Preliminary data for the 2024/25 academic year, released in May, show that women's participation in face-to-face learning is increasing, reaching 42.5% at the intermediate level and 45.3% at the higher level. In distance vocational training, women represent a significant majority, with 66.6% at the intermediate level and 62.5% at the higher level.

These trends reflect ongoing progress in gender equality in education. The Ministry continues to support initiatives like the STEAM Alliance and Women and Girls in Science Day, highlighting the Spanish Government's commitment to effective equality policies, including in education.

Read more

• Equality in figures. MEFD 2025. Classrooms for equality
• Statistics on non-university education. Enrolled students. Academic year 2024/25. Preliminary data
• The number of women entering vocational training continues to increase
• VET programmes by professional branches
• STEAM Alliance
• Women and Girls in Science Day