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Published: 23 September 2014

Number of students in vocational education 313,600 in 2013

According to Statistics Finland's education statistics, a total of 313,600 students attended education leading to a vocational qualification in 2013. Of the students, 171,300 studied in curriculum-based basic vocational education aimed at young people leading to an initial vocational qualification, 67,400 in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination, and 74,900 in further vocational education (further and specialist vocational qualifications).

Students in vocational education by field of education and gender in 2013

Thirty-eight per cent of the students studied in the field of technology and transport, 18 per cent in the field of health, welfare and sports, and 17 per cent in the field of business economics and administration. The shares of men and women among the students were almost equal. The fluctuation in the shares of men and women viewed by fields of education was, however, large. In the field of health and welfare, the share of women was 85 per cent and in the field of technology and transport it was 18 per cent.

Data on students are not in all respects comparable with the data from previous years. The compilation of statistics on curriculum-based basic vocational education provided by educational institutions has changed. Student data for 2013 have been collected for the entire calendar year. In earlier years, the data were collected for the situation on 20 September. Data for the situation on 20 September are still available.

There were 131,500 students in curriculum-based basic vocational education provided by educational institutions on 20 September 2013. There was one per cent less of them than in the previous year. The data for preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination and further vocational education are calendar year data as in previous years. There were five per cent more students in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination and six per cent fewer in further vocational education than in the year before.

There were 113,600 new students in vocational education in 2013. Of the new students, 49,200 began studying in curriculum-based basic vocational education, 30,000 in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination, and 34,400 in further vocational education. There were 95,400 new students in curriculum-based basic vocational education provided by educational institutions, which was two per cent more than in 2012. Forty per cent of new students began their studies in the field of technology and transport. New apprenticeship students numbered 18,200. Thirteen per cent fewer apprenticeship agreements were made than one year earlier. Thirty-four per cent of apprenticeship students began studying in the field of business economics and administration.

Altogether, 69,100 students completed a vocational qualification in 2013. Curriculum-based basic vocational education qualifications numbered 36,000, examinations in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination totalled 14,600, and qualifications in further vocational education amounted to 18,500. The number of attainers of vocational qualifications was two per cent lower than in the previous year. Fifty-three per cent of them were women. More than half, 55 per cent, attained qualifications in the fields of technology and transport, and health, welfare and sports. Nineteen per cent of the qualifiers were apprenticeship students.

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Reija Vento 029 551 3279, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. New students in vocational education by type of education 2013 (23.9.2014)
• Appendix table 2. Students in vocational education by type of education 2013 (23.9.2014)
• Appendix table 3. Qualifications in vocational education by type of education 2013 (23.9.2014)

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Updated 23.9.2014