Finding employment after vocational education
Between 2024 and 2026, we evaluate finding employment after vocational education. The evaluation will produce information on the current state in finding employment after vocational education, how the opportunities for finding employment can be supported during the education and what kind of development measures are required in VET to promote employment in different sectors and regions. The aim of the evaluation is to produce information to support the implementation of the Government Programme and to support education providers in the development of their activities. In addition, the evaluation aims to identify good practices nationally and internationally to promote employment. The information produced by the evaluation can also be used in the implementation of the employment services reform.
The evaluation focuses particularly on the employment of graduates with an initial vocational qualification, as this qualification is primarily intended to enable entry into working life and the start of a career. Employment among those with an initial vocational qualification is weaker, especially in the short term but also in the longer term, compared to those with further and specialist vocational qualifications.
More details about the background and implementation of the evaluation can be found in the project plan.
Current updates
The first results of the evaluation shed light on the connection between vocational education and working life from different perspectives. The results address employers’ views on the skills of newly graduated young people, recruitment, and the alignment of education with labour market needs. In addition, they highlight graduates’ experiences of studies and employment among those who graduated between spring 2022 and spring 2024. The evaluation also examines VET providers’ assessments of anticipating labour market skill needs and using foresight data in planning the provision of vocational qualifications, as well as the views of teaching and guidance staff on supporting students’ work-readiness and guidance.
Press release: How does VET support competence and employment? – Initial results of FINEEC’s evaluation
Explore the results here:
- Companies' views on the competence and recruitment of VET graduates
- Public sector employers' views on the competence and recruitment of VET graduates
- Initial results of the survey of VET providers
- Initial results of survey of teaching and guidance staff
- Initial results of the survey of initial vocational qualification graduates
In addition, we have published good practices from VET providers to support students’ employment:
Schedule
- Development webinar: March 2026 – registration opens at the beginning of the year
- Publication webinar: May 2026
Evaluation Group and International Expert Panel
An evaluation team with multiple perspectives has been appointed to support the experts at FINEEC in the implementation of the evaluation.
- Pekka Tauriainen, Principal, Vantaa Vocational College Varia
- Jukka Mäntymaa, Head of working life relations, Vamia, City of Vaasa
- Riina Nousiainen, Senior Advisor, Education and Competence, The Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK)
- Peer Haataja, Deputy managing director, Tampere Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Heta Rintala, Principal Research Scientist, HAMK Edu, Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK
In addition to the national evaluation group, an international expert panel has been appointed to identify good international practices that promote employment. The panel also contributes to drafting the evaluation’s conclusions and recommendations. The panel consists of:
- Rolf K.W. van der Velden, Professor Emeritus, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA), Maastricht University, Netherlands
- Johanna Schumacher, Investigator, Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education, Sweden
- Christian Helms Jørgensen, Professor, MSc (Sociology) & PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University, Denmark
- Rita Kask-Klesmann, Adviser, Area of Vocational Education and Training, Vocational Education and Skills Policy Department, Ministry of Education and Research, Estonia
Employment of VET graduates
Look at the recent overview, which examines the employment, unemployment and other placement after graduation of vocational education and training (VET) graduates. The overview is based on placement data from 2009–2021 obtained from Vipunen, and examines placement in relation to field of education, qualification completion method, the age and mother tongue of graduates and factors related to the education provider.
- Overview of the employment of VET graduates (in Finnish, summary in English)
- Press release: Employment rate of VET graduates varies by type of qualification, field of education and age of students – employment improves as time passes from graduation
Materials related to the evaluation
Project Plan
Press releases
- Employment rate of VET graduates varies by type of qualification, field of education and age of students – employment improves as time passes from graduation
- How does VET support competence and employment? – Initial results of FINEEC’s evaluation
Publications
- Overview of the employment of VET graduates (in Finnish, summary in English)
- Companies' views on the competence and recruitment of VET graduates
- Public sector employers' views on the competence and recruitment of VET graduates
- Initial results of the survey of VET providers
- Initial results of survey of teaching and guidance staff
- Initial results of the survey of initial vocational qualification graduates
- Good practices from VET providers to support students’ employment (in Finnish)
For more information about the evaluation, please contact
Jani Goman
