Vocational training continues to gain popularity among students in Catalonia. Last September, the allocation of places reached a record high: 81,479 students secured a place in a vocational training program. In total, more than 96,000 people participated in the pre-registration process, a figure that confirms the sustained growth of these studies in recent years. This milestone "places Catalonia at the forefront of Spanish autonomous communities with the strongest presence in vocational education," highlighted the Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Esther Niubó, at the beginning of the academic year.
Now, as the academic year draws to a close, many young people are wondering if vocational training could be the path to further education and preparation for the job market. But what exactly are these studies, and how do they differ from other educational pathways?
The practice, at the center
Specifically, vocational training is a set of courses designed to prepare students for a skilled profession. Unlike more academic pathways, these studies combine theoretical training with practical experience in companies, allowing students to acquire the technical skills specific to each sector. The programs are organized into different professional fields, such as administration and management, IT, healthcare, and sociocultural services, and are tailored to the various educational levels of the students.
If we take a closer look, we can see that within the vocational training system there are different pathways. On the one hand, there are the training and integration programs (PFI), aimed at young people who have left compulsory secondary education and want to continue their training or enter the job market. There are also basic, intermediate, and advanced vocational training cycles, which are the most common studies within vocational training and allow students to specialize in a specific professional field.
Vocational training programs last approximately 2,000 hours, spread over two academic years. Part of this time is dedicated to classroom instruction at the educational center, and another part to practical training in companies, known as on-the-job training. Furthermore, once a vocational training program is completed, it is also possible to take specialization courses, which allow for in-depth study in very specific professional areas.
The most requested courses
Vocational training is organized into 24 professional families, covering a wide range of fields, from healthcare and IT to commerce, education, and industry. Last year's pre-registration data provides an idea of which programs are most sought after by students.
For intermediate-level vocational training programs, the most popular was Auxiliary Nursing Care, with 9,152 applications, followed by Administrative Management (5,007) and Microcomputer Systems and Networks (4,721). As for advanced-level vocational training programs, the most popular was Administration and Finance, with 4,273 applications, followed by Early Childhood Education (4,038) and Social Integration (2,368).
Vocational training is also gaining ground among women.
A report by the FPCAT Agency indicates that these studies improve women's job opportunities and help reduce the gender pay gap.
Vocational training is becoming an increasingly important way for women in Catalonia to improve their skills and job opportunities. This is according to the report " Analysis of Vocational Training in Catalonia from a Feminist Perspective ," prepared by the Public Agency for Vocational Training and Qualifications of Catalonia (FPCAT), which analyzes female participation in these studies and their impact on career paths.
The study, published in March to coincide with International Women's Day (March 8), confirms that women are slightly in the majority across the vocational training system. Despite this overall balance, the analysis also reveals significant differences depending on the chosen professional field. Specifically, thirteen professional fields are considered clearly male-dominated, with women comprising 40% or less of the workforce, while six are mixed and another six are predominantly female. Among the most male-dominated fields are, for example, physical activity and sports, and agriculture, while the most female-dominated fields include administration and management, arts and crafts, and graphic arts.
The report also points to a positive trend in job opportunities for women with vocational training. Between 2014 and 2024, the employment advantage of women with vocational training compared to those with lower qualifications grew significantly, from 11.2% to 24.3%. At the same time, between 2014 and 2022, the gender pay gap narrowed by 6.4 percentage points.
