In October 2024, the admission campaign to vocational education institutions in Ukraine came to an end. The most popular professions among applicants were chef, auto mechanic, gas welder, confectioner, driver, and tractor driver. According to job search websites, chef, driver, and locksmith rank among the top ten in-demand professions in the labor market.
Admission statistics
This year, over 94,803 students chose vocational education, with a total of 219,438 individuals starting their studies. Importantly, the fulfillment of the regional order stands at 92%, which is 4% higher than the 2023 figure of 88%. This demonstrates a positive trend in how institutions are adapting to the needs of local businesses.
Importance of vocational education
The Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, emphasized that skilled trades are foundational to Ukraine’s economy, especially during the recovery period. He highlighted the importance of conveying to youth the significance of vocational education, which should be a conscious choice.
Leaders among regions
Among the regions receiving the most applications for training under the regional order, the leaders are:
- Dnipropetrovsk Region — 5,423 students;
- Lviv Region — 4,829 students;
- Kyiv City — 4,526 students.
State order
In terms of the state order, the regions with the highest number of applications are:
- Kharkiv Region — 809 students;
- Odesa Region — 435 students;
- Khmelnytskyi Region — 426 students.
Adaptation to the labor market
Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Dmytro Zavhorodnii, noted that vocational education is increasingly adapting to the demands of the labor market. Students are opting for complex professions like lathe operator and welder due to high demand for these specialties. This year, there are plans to update an additional 100 workshops, which should encourage more applicants to choose vocational education and skilled trades.
New opportunities for applicants
To simplify the choice of profession and educational institution, the Ministry of Education launched the “Profteh Online” website, which garnered 72,000 views in four months, particularly from applicants in Lviv, Kyiv, and Poltava regions.
Additionally, in 2024, applicants had the opportunity to submit their applications online for the second time, with 7,261 students taking advantage of this option.
