Worker and employer survey reveals that building and construction have a strong connection to the labour market leading to permanent employment. Health care, childhood and youth development meet the overall needs of the labour market, but lead more often to part-time, temporary, and on-call jobs.

The first publication of a series of skilled worker and employer surveys by the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (Udir) mapping VET relevance suggests that most skilled workers experience a good match between their education content and their tasks in the workplace.

The main report will be published in 2020. Preliminary results show that the connection to the labour market is weaker for skilled workers in healthcare, childhood and youth development than for those in building and construction. In addition, skilled workers in building and construction transition more quickly to permanent (usually full-time) employment after their exam. In healthcare, childhood and youth development, a significantly larger proportion is employed part-time, temporarily or as on-call workers. Most graduates have jobs related to their education. 

Trade certificate is important

Most skilled workers feel that the trade certificate was very important in getting their current job. The majority state that it is common for others in their professional field to hold the same trade certificate. In healthcare, childhood and youth development, it is common for similar tasks to be carried out by people with higher education and people without any specific education.   

Employers emphasise trade certificates when hiring 

Employers state that they emphasise trade certificates in the recruitment process. Employers in healthcare, childhood and youth development place greater importance on trade certificates than employers in building and construction. The reason for this may be greater demand for formalised educational requirements in these sectors. 

Further education 

A large proportion of skilled workers from both education programmes say they would consider further education. They believe that vocational education has provided them with a good basis for moving on to vocational school, but less so for tertiary education. Skilled workers in healthcare, childhood and youth development are more likely to believe that their vocational education has provided them with a good basis for tertiary studies.  

Skilled worker survey

The goal of the skilled worker survey is to learn about the labour market relevance of the Norwegian VET system from the viewpoint of skilled workers. This in turn serves as a basis for the education authorities to develop and improve VET. The initial survey round is limited to healthcare, childhood and youth development, and building and construction, but will be extended to other VET programmes in the future. 

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Udir Forskning og rapporter [Research and reports]

Fafo [Knowledge about labour, education, welfare and migration nationally and internationally]