While the majority of European citizens believe that vocational education and training (VET) equips individuals with the skills needed for employment and leads to good career opportunities, its overall public image continues to lag behind that of general education, a new Eurobarometer survey has found.
According to the survey, which was undertaken in November of last year, some 85% of respondents believe vocational education provides technical skills that are relevant to the labour market, while 82% say it leads to real job opportunities.
Some two-thirds (66%) also believe vocational qualifications lead to well-paid jobs.
Quality education
Respondents expressed positive views about the quality of vocational education, with 73% agreeing that it offers high-quality learning, while close to four fifths said programmes are delivered by competent teachers (79%) and supported by modern infrastructure (78%).
Opportunities to progress into higher education (67%) and participate in study-abroad programmes (64%) were also seen as strengths of the vocational pathway.
Elsewhere, more than half (53%) of respondents said job opportunities and earning potential were the biggest reasons for choosing VET, while 35% cited advice from family members and 28% pointed to guidance from teachers or careers advisers.
Image problem
However, at the same time, three-quarters of EU citizens said upper secondary general education enjoys a more favourable reputation than vocational education in their country, Eurobarometer noted.
The research also identified concerns about the skills taught through vocational programmes. Half of respondents believe VET does not do enough to develop basic skills such as literacy and digital literacy, or broader transferable skills including communication and critical thinking.
Gender stereotypes were also highlighted as a barrier to participation, with 71% of respondents stating that women are more often encouraged to pursue general education rather than technical or vocational subjects.
The survey was carried out on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion in November 2025 and published in July 2026. Read more here.
