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What are the drivers of VET Shortages in the EU? 

In March 2026, CEDEFOP published the Policy Brief “Vocational education and training (VET) occupations in shortage”.

This policy brief analyses the key drivers of VET shortages across the EU, including an ageing workforce, unattractive working conditions, gender segregation, limited teacher supply, and outdated curricula that struggle to keep pace with green and digital demands. It supports policy discussions linked to the Union of Skills (2025), the Herning Declaration (2025) on VET priorities for 2026 -2030, the forthcoming European VET strategy (2026), and the proposed Quality Jobs Act.

Key messages

  • The drivers of shortages are complex: shortages are not merely caused by a lack of qualified workers or ageing of EU society, they are also driven by low pay, strenuous working conditions, outdated curricula, and restrictive recruitment practices. Furthermore, institutional barriers like fixed enrolment limits and slow recognition of foreign qualifications limit the available pool of candidates.
  • VET teacher shortages create a vicious cycle: training institutions struggle to attract and retain teachers and this lack of capacity threatens the practical relevance of training and reduces the credibility of VET programmes for new learners impacting the overall perceived attractiveness of the VET system.
  • While AI is transforming the labour market, VET roles generally face lower replacement risks than non-VET occupations. However, it is still essential to equip VET students with foundational and digital skills to ensure they remain employable as technologies evolve.
  • Addressing gender stereotypes both in terms of imbalances within the enrolments to VET pathways and eventually within the employment in VET occupations, is seen as a vital strategy to expand the talent pool.
  • VET is highly effective at delivering transferable skills. The labour market values the VET practical competences even if the graduate works outside their original field of study.

Policy Brief “Vocational education and training (VET) occupations in shortage” available here.