More than 120,000 ninth-graders across the country have begun considering which upper secondary school program to choose. Given labor market needs and young people’s job prospects, a larger proportion than before should apply for vocational programs, the Swedish National Agency for Education writes in a new situation report for municipalities and independent schools.
Above all, the industrial technology, electricity and energy, and vehicle and transport programs need to be expanded in almost all counties.
Programs that should instead be scaled back include the university-preparatory programs in social sciences, economics and the arts. Social sciences and economics are the largest upper secondary school programs, but half of the students who take them do not go on to higher education.
No worries
That doesn’t mean teenagers considering one of these programs need to worry.
Even if our planning documents were followed in full, there would still be a good chance of getting a place in, for example, the social sciences program. It will remain one of the largest programs offered at upper secondary schools, says Anders Håkansson, a unit manager at the National Agency for Education.
Trend break
Since 2025, upper secondary schools have had to take labor market needs into account when designing their programs, rather than focusing only on students’ interests. According to Anders Håkansson, it is still too early to say how much the range of programs has changed, but he notes that the Swedish Schools Inspectorate takes the provision into account when deciding whether to approve new programs at independent upper secondary schools.
There has also been a break in the trend: a larger proportion of students are applying for vocational programs. This is likely because all vocational programs once again provide basic eligibility for higher education.
Young people are also smart, and they see what is happening in the labor market and where the jobs are, says Anders Håkansson.
Facts: The Swedish National Agency for Education’s assessments
University-preparatory programs that should be scaled back: economics, the arts and social sciences.
Vocational programs that should expand in most counties: industrial technology, electricity and energy, and vehicle and transport.
Vocational programs that should be scaled back: child care and recreation, and, in some counties, sales and service.
Source: Swedish National Agency for Education.
