The latest Special Eurobarometer survey on the attractiveness of VET reveals strong citizen confidence in vocational pathways:
- 85% of Europeans say VET provides the technical skills employers need
- 82% believe VET leads to real job opportunities
- 79% recognise the quality of VET teachers
- 73% rate VET as high-quality learning
People trust VET to deliver skills, jobs, and earning potential: over half say the top reason learners choose VET is to start working and earning sooner.
But there’s a gap to close. Despite these strengths, 3 in 4 EU citizens still say general upper-secondary education has a more positive image than VET in their country. Half of respondents also feel VET falls short on basic and transversal skills like literacy, digital skills, communication and critical thinking, and 71% agree that women are still steered toward general education over technical subjects.
EfVET sees this as a call to action, not a setback. As argued in our latest contribution to the European Strategy on VET, Member States and EU institutions must work more intensely for increased quality assurance, flexibility, innovation and inclusive excellence to enhance the prestige and visibility of vocational pathways.
VET doesn’t just prepare people for jobs, it prepares learners for their life and for the future of work. Let’s work together to make sure its image matches its impact.
Read the full Eurobarometer survey: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3367
Read our contribution to the European Strategy for VET here: https://efvet.org/publication/a-contribution-to-the-european-strategy-for-vocational-education-and-training/