Business · Companies · 9 hrs ago
Fewer Swiss young people are choosing vocational training
In Switzerland, the share of young people in vocational education fell to 66% in 2024, down from 71% in 2012.
More students, especially those with strong academic results and Swiss nationals, are choosing general education after compulsory school instead.
Interest has declined in many health, building and service apprenticeships, including healthcare, dental assisting, retail and hairdressing.
Searches for training in electrical installation, vehicle mechatronics and laboratory work have risen, while interest in business and ICT apprenticeships remains high but has recently levelled off.
Some employers cannot fill their apprenticeship places, while other jobs attract more applicants than there are openings.
Employers also consider applicants' personal and social skills when deciding who is suitable.
The trend report does not say what measures may follow.
The share of young people in Switzerland taking vocational education fell from 71 percent in 2012 to 66 percent in 2024.
A report by the Swiss Observatory for Vocational Education says academically strong students and Swiss nationals are increasingly choosing general education after compulsory school.
The shift is leaving more apprenticeship places unfilled.
Searches on the Yousty.ch apprenticeship platform show declining interest in many health, construction and service occupations compared with 2018.
- Who
- Young people in Switzerland, particularly academically strong students and Swiss nationals, are increasingly choosing general education.
- What
- The share taking dual or full-time vocational education has fallen, and more apprenticeship places are unfilled.
- When
- The report compares figures from 2012 and 2024; apprenticeship searches are compared with 2018.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- More young people are choosing general education instead of vocational education after compulsory school.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The share of young people in dual or full-time vocational education was 71 percent.
Yousty.ch apprenticeship searches provide a comparison point for changing occupational interests.
The share of young people in dual or full-time vocational education had fallen to 66 percent.
- Vocational education share, 2012
- 71 percent
- Vocational education share, 2024
- 66 percent
- Search comparison
- Yousty.ch searches compared with 2018
- Declining-interest occupations
- Health, construction and service-related apprenticeships
- Growing-interest occupations
- Electrical installer, automotive mechatronics technician and laboratory technician