IT education in vocational colleges: apply the brakes, but not in the wrong direction  

The Swedish Higher Vocational Education Authority (MYH) recently presented the results of the 2025 application round. Higher vocational education is growing and the range of courses on offer is being renewed, but there are significant cutbacks in the field of computer science/IT. Only 31 of 220 applications were approved, citing the fact that students are finding it increasingly difficult to find jobs after graduation. The decline in statistics is mainly explained by the economic downturn, but also by the rapid development of AI. 

It is fundamentally correct for MYH to suspend or reject programs that do not lead to employment. The mission of vocational colleges is to meet the needs of the labor market, and when the proportion of graduates who find jobs declines, the reasons must be analyzed. However, when the consequence is that entire educational programs and areas are rejected, rather than individual programs that are of poor quality or relevance, the analysis must be particularly well-founded. Otherwise, decisions at this level risk having major consequences for working life.  

AI is changing skill requirements, but that does not mean that the need for IT skills as a whole is decreasing. The conclusion cannot therefore be that IT education programs should be rejected across the board. Rather, it is a matter of adapting decisions on new education programs to meet new demands in the labor market.  

My assessment is that the decline in employment among those who graduated in 2023 and 2024 can primarily be explained by the economic situation and growing pains within higher vocational education, rather than by profound structural changes in the labor market. Let me explain.  

Economic downturn hits entry-level jobs directly 

Uncertainty in the world around us has hit the entire economy hard, including the tech industry. In 2024, investments slowed down, layoffs increased, and employment declined in many sectors simultaneously. IT skills are in demand far beyond the traditional tech industry, but when the economic situation is tight, employers generally hold back on new recruitment.  

At the same time, fewer assignments during the economic downturn have created a weaker market situation for many consulting firms. These companies, which have long served as an important springboard for juniors in the industry, have been forced to cut back on entry-level jobs, internships, and trainee positions. The effect is particularly hard on recent graduates and on educational programs such as vocational colleges, where the transition to work is a key measure of quality. 

Growing pains in higher vocational education  

Vocational colleges have expanded significantly in recent years, particularly in the field of IT. TechSverige has emphasized on various occasions that this expansion needs to be accompanied by increased awareness of vocational colleges among employers. As more programs are launched, there is also a growing need for more employers to be aware of this type of education and the opportunity to take on LIA students. 

LIA, learning in the workplace, is a central part of higher vocational education and an important bridge between education and working life. A significant proportion of students who complete their LIA also find work with the same employer. At the same time, access to LIA placements, particularly in IT, has been a major challenge. 

When MYH conducted thematic reviews of educational programs in 2024, 70 percent of IT programs received criticism, compared to an average of 44 percent. The criticism mainly concerned access to LIA placements.¹The ultimate responsibility for ensuring LIA placements lies with the education providers, but the problem is structural and requires broader involvement from the world of work. 

If higher vocational education is to continue to develop at a rapid pace, it is essential that higher vocational education institutions and education providers are given the conditions to work long-term with both quality and knowledge of the form of education, in close collaboration with the world of work. 

Educational offerings need to evolve in step with new jobs 

At the same time, there is reason to review how the educational offerings of vocational colleges are designed. TechSverige haspointedout the need to create better conditions for cutting-edge education. In order for vocational colleges to continue to meet the needs of the labor market, there needs to be greater scope to approve programs that take into account new and emerging jobs, for example in AI. Earmarked resources and shorter application processes are required for such programs so that vocational colleges can better meet the future skills needs of the labor market. 

Strengthen the relevance of education programs  

It is in everyone's interest to strengthen the quality and relevance of IT education at universities of applied sciences. Until 2023, graduates from IT programs at universities of applied sciences have had a high employment rate and a very good match with the labor market. This is a position of strength that should not be undermined by short-term conclusions in a difficult economic situation. 

During the spring, we as an industry and employer organization will work to contribute to increased awareness and greater engagement in IT education at universities of applied sciences. This will include highlighting and raising awareness of the experiences of member companies that are or have been involved in higher vocational education programs and that share the added value of participating in management groups and accepting LIA students. The goal is to get more employers, both in tech and other industries, involved. 

The demand for IT skills is not limited to the tech industry, but extends to society as a whole. That is precisely why IT programs at vocational colleges need to be developed and adapted, not phased out.  

Ana Andric
Economic policy expert