Vocational education and training (VET) - Schools

In 2021/22, almost 215 600 students were in vocational education and training. 41% of them were young women and 24% were of foreign nationality. Almost all students in vocational education and training were following a programme leading to a Federal VET Diploma (almost 93%). The remainder chose a VET Certificate or uncertified apprenticeship course (7%) or another vocational course.

Students in vocational education and training, change since 2005/06
  2005/06 2010/11 2015/16 2020/21 2021/22
Total 213 174 228 717 226 822 215 651 215 581
  Female (%) 41.7 42.0 41.8 40.6 40.7
  Foreign (%) 15.7 16.8 19.5 23.2 23.7
180 659 205 104 212 329 199 730 199 950
  Female (%) 38.0 41.4 41.6 41.0 40.9
  Foreign (%) 14.5 15.5 18.2 20.8 21.5
1 335 8 343 13 215 15 059 14797
  Female (%) 66.1 46.6 45.0 36.5 37.0
  Foreign (%) 35.1 36.8 40.7 54.1 53.3
14 989 1 896  948  836  813
  Female (%) 80.5 63.1 40.6 35.3 41.7
  Foreign (%) 16.1 24.4 26.1 24.2 26.3
11 225 11 051 . . .
  Female (%) 49.6 47.1 . . .
  Foreign (%) 21.9 21.3 . . .
4 966 2 323  330 26  21
  Female (%) 33.2 36.7 33.3 34.6 38.1
  Foreign (%) 37.2 35.7 40.9 7.7 19.0
1 Including the federal vocational baccalaureate during vocational education (FVB1) Source: FSO – Statistics on pupils and students (SDL)
Data as of: February 2023

Vocational education and training mainly occurs in dual mode, i.e. in-company training along with training at a vocational school, providing both theory and the necessary general education. This is completed by inter-company courses which form the crossroads between the two areas of learning. Vocational education and training can also take place in full-time school in a small number of cases. Vocational education and training is completed with the Federal VET Certificate after two years or the Federal VET Diploma after three to four years.
Since 2005/06, numbers in vocational education and training have risen by 1%. Compared to the previous year, these remained stable (increase of 0.1%).

The three most popular training sectors chosen by students in 2021/22 were: Business and administration (17%), Wholesale and retail sales (11%) and Building and civil engineering (7%). Some sectors are clearly gender-dominated.

Related topics

Contact

Federal Statistical Office Section Educational Processes
Espace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Tel.
+41 58 483 93 61

Monday to Friday
09.00-12.00 and 13.30-16.30

Contact

Remark

Our English pages offer only a limited range of information on our statistical production. For our full range please consult our pages in French and German (top right hand screen).

https://www.bfs.admin.ch/content/bfs/en/home/statistics/education-science/pupils-students/upper-secondary/vocational-training.html