Business · Economy · 8 hrs ago
49% of Swiss school leavers chose vocational training in 2026
Nearly half of Switzerland’s school leavers began vocational training this summer, after finishing compulsory school.
Of more than 91,000 young people who left school, 34% chose an academic path and 17% took an interim option.
Swiss companies offered about 86,000 apprenticeship places, and most were filled by August.
More than 75,000 places were taken, an 88% fill rate, unchanged from last year.
Employers said some places remained open because applicants were unsuitable or there were too few applications, citing school results, language skills and motivation.
Most places lead to a vocational qualification, while 7% lead to a shorter vocational certificate.
A quarter of young people wanted more information about learning and managing their time, and some sought more guidance on school demands, stress and finances.
Nearly half of the young people who finished compulsory school in Switzerland in summer 2026 chose vocational basic training.
The federal government’s transition barometer found that 49 percent chose vocational training, 34 percent chose an academic path and 17 percent chose an interim solution.
Swiss companies offered around 86,000 apprenticeship places, with more than 75,000 filled by August.
The shares of young people choosing each path were unchanged from the previous year.
- Who
- More than 91,000 young people who finished compulsory school in Switzerland.
- What
- 49 percent chose vocational basic training. Another 34 percent chose an academic path and 17 percent an interim solution.
- When
- Summer 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
More than 91,000 young people finished compulsory school, and 49 percent chose vocational basic training.
More than 75,000 of the around 86,000 apprenticeship places offered had been filled.
SRF published the results of the federal government’s transition barometer.
- Vocational training
- 49% of school leavers
- Academic path
- 34% of school leavers
- Interim solution
- 17% of school leavers
- Apprenticeship places offered
- Around 86,000
- Apprenticeship places filled by August
- More than 75,000; 88% of those offered
- Survey responses
- 2,003 young people and 3,808 companies