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Published: 27 September 2019

123,100 new students in vocational education

According to Statistics Finland's education statistics, a total of 123,100 new students attended education leading to a vocational qualification during the calendar year 2018. Fifty-two per cent of them were women. Of the new students, 85,000 attended initial vocational education, 27,300 further vocational education and 10,800 specialist vocational education. There were three per cent fewer new students than in the previous year.

Students in vocational training by field of education (National Classification of Education 2016) and sex in 2018

Of the new students, 26 per cent studied technology, 23 per cent service industries and 19 per cent health and welfare. The fluctuation in the shares of men and women viewed by fields of education was large. In the field of health and welfare, the share of women was 83 per cent and in the field of information and communication technology it was 14 per cent.

A total of 322,300 students attended education leading to a vocational qualification in 2018. Fifty-one per cent of them were women.

At the time cross-sectional period in autumn on 20 September, a total of 150,900 students attended initial vocational education leading to a qualification provided by educational institutions. In 2018, the data at the cross-sectional period on 20 September includes all students as according to the legislation that took effect at the beginning of 2018 (Act on vocational educations 531/2017) education is no longer divided into education for young people and adult education (preparatory education for a skills examination). The cross-sectional number of students is not comparable with the number of students in previous years as prior to 2018, the data at the cross-sectional period on 20 September only concerned students in curriculum-based basic vocational education for young people.

In 2018, there were 220,700 students in initial vocational education provided by educational institutions. There were three per cent fewer students than in the year before. In all, 34,600 students attended further vocational education and 9,600 specialist vocational education.

In total, 57,400 students participated in apprenticeship training. Of the students, 21,900 attended initial vocational education, 19,600 further vocational education and 15,900 specialist vocational education.

Completers of vocational qualifications 2012–2018

Altogether, 79,600 students completed a vocational qualification in 2018. The number of initial vocational qualifications was 54,500, that of further vocational qualifications was 17,200 and that of specialist vocational qualifications was 7,900. The number of qualifications was almost four per cent higher than in the year before. Fifty-five per cent of them were women. Almost one-half, 47 per cent, attained qualifications in the fields of technology, business and administration. Twenty-one per cent of the qualifiers were apprenticeship students.

More detailed information on vocational education students and completers of qualifications, for example, by region of education and age can be found in the database table.

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Soile Lampinen 029 551 3446, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. New students in vocational education by type of education 2018 (27.9.2019)
• Appendix table 2. Students in vocational education by type of education 2018 (27.9.2019)
• Appendix table 3. Qualifications from vocational education by type of education 2018 (27.9.2019)

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Updated 27.9.2019