Indicator Overviews

European policy-making in vocational education and training (VET) needs to be supported by sound evidence. Cedefop has selected a set of 36 indicators to quantify some key aspects of VET and lifelong learning. The selection is based on the indicators' policy relevance and their importance in achieving the Europe 2020 objectives.

Indicators account for the most recent challenges and opportunities arising from developments in the relevant statistical infrastructure and includes evidence from the European Statistical System.

These indicators should be regarded as a valuable tool to help policy-makers better understand and assess VET developments in each country. While this set of indicators does not claim to assess national systems or policies, they could be used to reflect on countries situation and progress towards the strategic objectives set for Europe.

The indicators present statistical overviews where for each indicator data are presented for European Union Member States and also the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. To the best possible extent at the time of its preparation, the report selects and presents developments over time.

See also: VET indicator overviews by country.

Table of indicators

01. Students participating in IVET	19. Average number of foreign languages learned in IVET
02. Students participating in work-based IVET	20. STEM graduates from upper secondary IVET
03. IVET students with direct access to tertiary education	21. Young people with a VET qualification at tertiary level
04. Employees participating in CVT courses	22. Innovative enterprises with supportive training practices
05. Employees participating in on-the-job training	23. Employment rate for IVET graduates (20-34 years olds)
06. Adults participating in education and training	24. Employment premium for IVET graduates (over general stream)
07. Enterprises providing training to workers	25. Employment premium for IVET graduates (over low educated)
08. Female students participating in IVET	26. Workers helped to improve their work by training
09. Employees of small firms participating in CVT courses	27. Workers with skills matched to do their duties
10. Young IVET graduates continuing in education and training	28. Early leavers from education and training
11. Older adults participating in education and training	29. 30-34 years old with tertiary attainment
12. Low-educated adults participating in education and training	30. NEET rate for 18-24 years olds
13. Unemployed adults participating in education and training	31. Unemployment rate for 20-34 years olds
14. Adults wanted to participate in lifelong learning but did not	32. Employment rate of recent graduates
15. Job-related non-formal education and training	33. Adults with low level of education
16. IVET public expenditure (% of GDP)	34. Employment rate for 20-64 years olds
17. IVET public expenditure per student (PPS units)	35. Employment rate for 20-64 years olds with low level of education
18. Enterprises expenditure on CVT courses	36. Medium/high qualified employment in 2025