Vocational qualifications for adults - a new opportunity?

Adults without any qualifications struggle to find a job on the Swiss labour market. They are significantly more likely to be unemployed, to depend on social welfare or to work in poorly paid jobs. At the same time, there is a shortage of skilled workers in several sectors.

Workshop
Woodapple / Fotolia

Over 400,000 adults in Switzerland find themselves in this situation

In Switzerland, there are currently over 400,000 people between the ages of 25 and 54 who lack vocational qualifications. These adults represent untapped potential that could prove useful not just for the individuals themselves but for the economy as a whole. Therefore, educational policy has recently been placing more emphasis on making better use of this potential.

Developing VET is a task shared by the Confederation, the cantons and professional organisations. Trade associations and companies have a central role to play in encouraging adults to pursue vocational qualifications. It is therefore vital to understand the companies’ needs and experiences in order to propose new measures.

Funded by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), the project «VET for adults: employers’ perspective» sets out to analyse the needs and requirements of the private sector – as expressed by employers and representative bodies.  

Additional information