What happened
Application numbers for practical upper secondary programs are increasing in Sweden according to Dagens Nyheter. The increased demand is noticeable in Malmfälten, among other places. At Lapplandsgymnasiet in Gällivare, the Electricity and Energy program has become the most difficult program to get into. According to teacher Stefan Aspemo, students can earn up to 50 000 kronor a month after completing upper secondary education.
Our analysis
An income of up to 50 000 kronor a month directly after upper secondary school demonstrates how strong the demand for vocationally trained labor is in northern Sweden. However, the reporting omits how many educational places Lapplandsgymnasiet has available and what the admission requirements look like in practice. Without this information, it is impossible to assess how many young people are actually given the opportunity to establish themselves through the training. To determine whether the educational paths are sufficient, Lapplandsgymnasiet and municipal officials need to report the number of applicants in relation to admitted students.
Explained
A practical upper secondary program, or vocational program, is a three-year upper secondary education aimed at leading directly to a profession without requiring further studies.
Source: Dagens Nyheter