Education comes in different forms: How do Europeans feel about vocational training?
A new Eurobarometer survey reveals that most Europeans perceive general education as more prestigious than vocational training. While many recognize that vocational paths lead to high-demand jobs, concerns persist regarding the quality of basic skills taught in these programs.
Why it matters
Understanding public perception of vocational training is critical for EU policymakers aiming to address labor market skills gaps and youth unemployment.
Education comes in different forms: How do Europeans feel about vocational training? Three-quarters of EU citizens believe that general education at an upper secondary level has a more positive image than vocational training, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.
Respondents in Sweden, Denmark and Finland agreed the most with this statement, while EU citizens in Czechia, Latvia and Romania agreed the least.
When deciding between general education and vocational training, people tend to say that advice from parents (35%) is more influential than guidance from teachers (28%).
At the bottom of the table, the perceived prestige of vocational education and training (16%) and social media (14%) are said to be some of the least influential factors in deciding which one to pursue.
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