Influence of the professional dimension of vocational training on the choice of post-compulsory studies in Spain

Vocational Education and Training (VET) has taken on new importance across Europe, especially in Spain, as a means of connecting education to the labour market. In examining the professional dimension of VET, several categories influence the decision to pursue VET: employability, salary, professional skills, job placement, and emerging professional profiles. This study analyses the impact of these categories on the decision to pursue VET among secondary students and their families, along with the academic and professional guidance shaping these choices. Using a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, focus groups were conducted with third-year secondary students and their families in four Spanish regions. Results show that the baccalaureate is considered versatile, associated with job stability and high income, while VET is linked to job opportunities, skill development, and employability. In this context, providing a skilled workforce should align with the broader socioeconomic role VET can fulfil today and the aim of VET should be to connect the vocational preferences of students with the most in-demand technical professional profiles, making VET a similar alternative to university education.