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Published: 27 September 2018

Number of new students in vocational training 126,900

According to Statistics Finland's education statistics, a total of 126,900 new students attended education leading to a vocational qualification in 2017. Fifty-two per cent of them were women. Of the new students, 46,200 studied in curriculum-based education aimed at young people leading to an initial vocational qualification, 41,800 in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination, and 38,900 in further vocational education (further and specialist vocational qualifications). There were one per cent more new students than in the previous year.

New students in vocational education by field of education (Finnish Standard Classification of Education 2016) and gender in 2017

27 per cent of the new students studied in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction, 21 per cent in the field of services, and 19 per cent in the field of business and administration. Fifty-two per cent of the new students were women. 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 84 per cent and in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) it was 12 per cent.

In the calendar year 2017, a total of 327,000 persons were studying in vocational education leading to a qualification.

There were 156,400 students in curriculum-based basic vocational education aimed at young people provided by educational institutions in 2017. Since 2013, data on the number of students in education for young people have been available both for the calendar year and for the autumn cross-sectional point on 20 September. On 20 September 2017, there were 116,200 students in education for young people. There were three per cent less of them than in the previous year.

There were 117,800 students in preparatory education for a skills examination provided by educational institutions. There were two per cent more students than in the year before. Of the students, 71,300 studied in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination, and 46,500 in further vocational education.

There were 52,700 students in apprenticeship training. The number of students was four per cent more than in the year before. Of the students, 1,400 studied in curriculum-based education aimed at young people leading to an initial vocational qualification, 17,900 in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination, and 33,400 in further vocational education.

Qualifications from vocational education 2011–2017

Altogether, 76,800 students completed a vocational qualification in 2017. Curriculum-based basic vocational education qualifications numbered 34,800, examinations in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination totalled 20,500, and qualifications in further vocational education amounted to 21,500. The number of attainers of vocational qualifications was three per cent more than in the previous year. 54 per cent of them were women. Almost half, 47 per cent, of those who attained qualifications studied in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction, or in business and administration. 18 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 2017 (27.9.2018)
• Appendix table 2. Students in vocational education by type of education 2017 (27.9.2018)
• Appendix table 3. Qualifications from vocational education by type of education 2017 (27.9.2018)

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Updated 27.9.2018