The Swedish Confederation of Employers (Svenskt Näringsliv) has released its ”Gymnasiepejl 2025” report, highlighting the growing concern of businesses struggling to find skilled workers due to a declining number of students choosing vocational programs in upper secondary school. The report, compiling data from the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket), Statistics Sweden (SCB), and Ungdomsbarometern (Youth Barometer), aims to equip students and parents with the necessary information to make informed decisions about their future career paths. A key feature of the report is its interactive component, allowing users to explore median salaries one and three years post-graduation for specific programs, as well as employment rates and continuation to higher education.
The report unequivocally demonstrates that vocational programs lead to higher employment rates directly after graduation. The vehicle and transport program boasts the highest employment rate, with 82% of graduates employed within a year of completing their studies. This is closely followed by plumbing and property management, construction and civil engineering, industrial technology, and healthcare and social care. Despite these promising employment figures, the report reveals a significant perception gap among ninth-grade students regarding the value of vocational programs. A majority believe that university-preparatory programs offer better career prospects and higher earning potential, a misconception that contributes to the current skills shortage.
This misperception is highlighted by the survey responses within the report. A staggering 68% of ninth-graders believe that university-preparatory programs offer the best career opportunities, compared to a mere 8% who favor vocational programs. Similarly, 52% associate higher salaries with academic programs, while only 33% believe vocational programs can lead to well-paying jobs. While the perception of job security slightly favors vocational programs (50% vs. 24% for academic programs), the overall trend indicates a clear preference for the academic route. This misconception, coupled with societal pressures and perhaps a lack of understanding regarding the breadth of opportunities within vocational fields, contributes to the declining enrollment in these critical programs.
The report highlights the story of Miranda Björkstrand, a 21-year-old graduate of the vehicle and transport program, who secured a job just two days after graduation. Her passion for vehicles, nurtured by her childhood experiences working alongside her father in his workshop, led her to choose a vocational path. Björkstrand’s experience underscores the immediate employability and rewarding nature of vocational training, emphasizing the practical, hands-on approach to problem-solving that these programs offer. Her success is further exemplified by her participation and impressive sixth-place finish in the WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, showcasing her expertise in truck technology. This accomplishment underscores the potential for excellence and international recognition within vocational fields.
Despite the demonstrably high employment rates and earning potential highlighted in the ”Gymnasiepejl 2025” report, the prevailing perception among students continues to favor academic programs. The report shows that a significant proportion of students from university-preparatory programs continue their education after graduation. For example, 72% of humanities program graduates and a similarly high percentage of science and technology graduates pursue further studies within a year of completing their upper secondary education. This trend, while indicative of the academic focus of these programs, further reinforces the perceived superiority of the academic path. The report also notes the varying graduation rates across different programs, with economics boasting the highest rate at 85%, followed by science, electrical and energy, technology, and social sciences.
The challenge, therefore, lies in bridging this perception gap and promoting the value and opportunities offered by vocational education. The report’s interactive features, providing concrete data on employment rates, salaries, and further education pathways, are a crucial step in this direction. By providing transparent and accessible information, the Swedish Confederation of Employers aims to empower students and parents to make informed choices aligned with both individual interests and the needs of the labor market. This includes emphasizing the often-overlooked opportunities for career progression and specialization within vocational fields, as exemplified by Björkstrand’s success. The report ultimately serves as a call to action to address the prevailing misconceptions surrounding vocational education and ensure a balanced and skilled workforce for the future. The ten most popular upper secondary programs, according to Skolverket data within the report, further highlight the current imbalance, with only a few vocational programs like construction, vehicle and transport, and electrical and energy programs making the list, dominated by academic tracks.
