Of the 22 million pupils in the European Union (EU) studying at upper secondary level in 2015, more than 10 million (or 47%) were enrolled in vocational education. In thirteen EU Member States, more than half of all upper secondary pupils studied vocational programmes.
Vocational education at upper secondary level was somewhat dominated by males, who accounted for 56% of pupils studying this type of programme. This pattern can be observed in almost all Member States.
Highest share of upper secondary pupils enrolled in vocational education in the Czech Republic
In 2015, the highest proportion of pupils at upper secondary level enrolled in vocational education was registered in the Czech Republic (73%), ahead of Finland (71%), Croatia and Austria (both 70%), Slovakia and the Netherlands (both 69%) and Slovenia (68%).
At the opposite end of the scale, shares of less than a third were recorded in Malta (13%), Cyprus (16%), Hungary (23%), Lithuania (27%) and Greece (32% in 2014).
This news item marks the European Vocational Skills week (20-24 November).
In Ireland there are no programmes with vocational orientation at upper secondary level
The source dataset can be found here
More males than females in upper secondary vocational education in most Member States
The majority of pupils following vocational upper secondary programmes were male in every EU Member State, except Ireland (67% were women), Belgium (52%), Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Finland (all 51%).
In contrast, fewer than 40% of pupils following vocational programmes at upper secondary level were female in Cyprus (22%), Greece (35%), Estonia and Lithuania (both 36%), Germany and Italy (both 38%), as well as Poland (39%).
At EU level, women accounted for 44% of pupils enrolled in vocational education programmes at upper secondary level.
More information in Statistics Explained article on vocational education and training