VET students' vision of the future after training

Abstract

The study examines the relationship between the future perspectives of vocational education students and sociodemographic variables, attitudes toward school, labor market awareness, and professional engagement. It also examines the proportion of students who are uncertain about their future and are at risk of becoming NEET as well as the identified risk factors associated with this phenomenon. The findings are based on a sample of 4,012 final-year vocational students surveyed by the National Office of Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning as part of its Graduate Tracking Survey 2022. According to the analyzes conducted in this study, nearly two-thirds of vocational students plan to enter the labor market within three years of graduation. As expected, higher parental education leads to more stable future perspectives, underscoring the critical role of family background, particularly on the part of the mother, in the success of future employment. Those who plan to work or study are more aware of opportunities in the labor market and are engaged to their professions. According to the data, 10.2% of students are at risk of becoming NEET, but the mother's educational level, professional engagement, and awareness of the labor market help prevent this risk.