Vocational education and training (VET) teachers are shaping the future of nearly 43% of Europe’s youth aged 15 to 19. Every day, they help young people build the skills, confidence, and curiosity they’ll need for life and work.
For teachers to continue inspiring others, they themselves need to be supported, healthy, and prepared for the challenges of today — and tomorrow.
Yet across Europe, VET teachers face growing pressures. As the EU races toward its 2030 skills targets and works to strengthen its long-term competitiveness, a worrying trend is emerging: teacher shortages — especially in VET — are slowing progress.
A Profession Under Pressure
Teaching is losing its appeal among Europe’s youth. In twelve EU countries, less than 2% of young professionals want to become teachers. Meanwhile, almost half - 44.2% - of upper secondary VET teachers are already over 50. The result? A growing teacher shortage that threatens the future of education across Europe.
Recent Cedefop findings gathering responses from 735 teachers across 23 countries highlight growing challenges within the teaching profession. Only 13% of teachers believe their salary fairly reflects the work they do. Indeed, teachers earn on average 10.5% less than other tertiary-educated professionals. And just 21% feel valued in their country. Many also report being stretched thin, with half saying they’re overloaded with additional duties caused by staff shortages. Professional growth is another concern - only one in two teachers say their school actively supports them in taking part in continuing professional development (CPD).
These issues don’t just affect teachers — they ripple through schools, workplaces, and society as a whole.
And yet, we ask them to deliver on Europe’s digital and green transitions, to adapt to AI, and to create inclusive classrooms for all learners.
If we want a skills-first Europe, we must first support the people who teach those skills.
Giving Teachers a Stronger Voice: The European Vocational Teacher Survey (EVTS)
At Cedefop, we’ve heard teachers’ voices loud and clear — from unions and ministries, from researchers and VET providers, and most importantly, from teachers themselves.
They tell us about the obstacles they face: lack of time, recognition, leadership support, and opportunities for real-world experience. They also tell us what works: mentoring, peer learning, credible training, and strong links with industry.
But one thing has been missing — comparable, EU-wide data on VET teachers’ continuing professional development (CPD).
That’s why we launched the European Vocational Teacher Survey (EVTS) — the first major European survey dedicated entirely to VET teachers. Its goal is simple yet powerful: to give teachers a voice and to equip policymakers with evidence, not anecdotes.
What Will EVTS Explore?
The EVTS focuses on the people who make learning happen. It explores how VET teachers:
- Develop their professional skills;
- Experience their daily work and well-being;
- Engage (or struggle to engage) in continuous learning;
- Prepare for digital, green, and inclusive education.
Because teachers who thrive create thriving schools, understanding their experiences is essential.
Figure 1. EVTS research questions
Anchored in the EU’s Union of Skills agenda, the EVTS supports major policy frameworks — including the new EU Teachers and Trainers agenda; the Digital Education Action Plan; the European Education Area / ET 2030; the Council Recommendation on VET; the Council conclusions on European teachers and trainers for the future; and the Herning Declaration on attractive and inclusive VET.
Policy sets the what. EVTS will help us understand the how, where, and is it working?
How Will the EVTS Work?
The EVTS design is to try to reach out to over 20 EU countries and more than 10 thousand teachers.
Figure 2. EVTS method and participating countries
Participants will complete a 30-minute online questionnaire focusing on professional development, working conditions, job satisfaction, and career pathways. The goal is to uncover what makes the VET teaching profession attractive — and what drives teachers away.
To ensure reliability, schools and teachers will be randomly selected for participation, with full anonymity and confidentiality guaranteed. The survey design has undergone extensive testing and validation to ensure clarity and cross-country comparability.
From Data to Action: Cedefop’s Commitment
Europe’s skills ambitions stand or fall with its teachers. And teachers succeed when their professional growth is recognised, relevant, and realistically supported.
Cedefop’s investment in EVTS goes beyond funding — it’s about co-creation and impact:
- Co-creation and relevance: EVTS was developed in close cooperation with EU Member States, social partners, and the wider VET community, ensuring it truly reflects teachers’ working realities — balancing teaching, assessment, administration, and lifelong learning.
- Quality and comparability: As with all Cedefop surveys, EVTS applies rigorous sampling and statistical methods, ensuring scientific credibility and international comparability.
- Turning data into action: The results will feed into European and national policy-learning cycles, thematic studies, and country reports. The aim: to translate evidence into tangible improvements in teacher well-being, professional development, and working conditions.
Participating schools will also gain direct benefits — including tailored insights to strengthen their own development strategies and teaching practices.
Because when we support teachers, we support entire learning communities — from school leaders to every student in their classrooms.
Bringing Teachers’ Voices to the Policy Table
Through the EVTS, we’re bringing teachers’ voices from the classroom to the policy table — ensuring they are heard, valued, and supported.
Teachers are the bridge between learners’ dreams and their success.
Our shared mission is to make that bridge stronger — with evidence, empathy, and action.
📢 Explore the EVTS Project Resources!
You can now access the EVTS poster and brochure in the Downloads section of the EVTS project page. This page will continue to grow as the project evolves — featuring pilot findings in 2025-26 and mainstage results in 2027-28. Stay tuned for updates and new insights as the EVTS journey unfolds!
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