Summary
A new study by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training shows: Switzerland's apprenticeship market is regionally highly fragmented. While 95 percent of young people have access to over 100 professions, the selection varies considerably depending on place of residence – from 227 to only 18 available professions. The research demonstrates that geographic location not only influences career choice but also jeopardizes equal opportunity. Specialized professions such as cable car mechatronics are unreachable for many young people.
Persons
Topics
- Swiss apprenticeship market
- Regional disparities
- Equal opportunity
- Vocational basic education
Clarus Lead
Access to apprenticeships in Switzerland is geographically highly unequally distributed. Young people in Olten have access to 227 different professions with over 49,000 apprenticeships, while young people in Brusio (Graubünden) can only choose from 18 professions with 38 apprenticeships. These regional differences not only shape the available options but also have a lasting impact on the career prospects of school leavers. The study by the Swiss Observatory for Vocational Education reveals a previously underestimated structural problem in the dual training system.
Clarus Contribution
Clarus Research: The study is based on complete data from all dual apprenticeship contracts 2021/22 (FSO). The search area was scientifically defined: all municipalities reachable by public transport within a maximum of 60 minutes – a threshold that 85 percent of all trainees actually observe.
Classification: Regional disparities jeopardize the principle of equal opportunity. Young people in peripheral areas are "pushed" by supply and proximity towards other career choices, regardless of their abilities or interests.
Consequence: Professional associations, cantons and the federal government must deliberately build training capacity in underserved regions or promote mobility – otherwise social inequalities become entrenched at the point of career choice.
Detailed Summary
Massive Differences in Supply
The study by the Swiss Observatory for Vocational Education at the FIVT analyzes the structure of regional apprenticeship markets systematically for the first time. On average, a search area (defined as municipalities with a maximum commute time of 60 minutes) comprises 35 municipalities with approximately 1,900 training companies and 6,600 apprenticeships. However, these average values mask considerable disparities.
The extreme cases clearly illustrate the problem: In Olten, young people have access to 242 municipalities with 12,704 training companies and 49,484 apprenticeships in 227 professions. In contrast, young people in Brusio (Canton Graubünden) can only access 2 municipalities with 24 training companies and 38 apprenticeships in 18 professions. This is a difference of a factor of 1,300 in the number of apprenticeships.
Unequal Opportunity Despite Broad Coverage
At first glance, the situation appears reassuring: Approximately 95 percent of young people have access to over 100 different apprenticeship professions. Only just under 1 percent have fewer than 50 professions to choose from. This figure could suggest that the system generally works.
However, detailed analysis reveals the downside: The range of professional diversity per search area ranges from 2 to 227 professions. While commercial apprenticeships are offered almost everywhere, specialized professions such as cable car mechatronics or viticulture are regionally concentrated and unreachable for many young people. This means that career aspirations are shaped not primarily by abilities or interests, but by geographic location.
Methodological Basis
The research is based on complete data from the Federal Statistical Office on all dual apprenticeship contracts in vocational basic education in the 2021/22 training year. The definition of the search area is based on an earlier mobility study: 85 percent of all young trainees commute a maximum of 60 minutes between place of residence and place of training. This scientific foundation makes the results robust and practice-oriented.
Key Statements
- Place of residence is a structural influencing factor on career choice and opportunities for young people.
- 95 percent have access to over 100 professions, but distribution is extremely unequal.
- Specialized professions are geographically concentrated and unreachable for many regions.
- The dual training system is regionally fragmented rather than integrated.
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Group | Role |
|---|---|
| Young people in peripheral areas | Lose: Limited career choice, mobility pressure or redirection to available professions |
| Young people in urban centers | Win: Maximum selection, better chances of desired profession |
| Training companies in underserved regions | Lose: Difficult to recruit trainees; brain drain |
| Cantons and municipalities | Affected: Different responsibility for equal opportunity |
| Professional associations | Affected: Unequal recruitment of new talent depending on region |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Targeted expansion of training places in shortage regions | Entrenchment of regional inequalities across generations |
| Better networking of companies across regional boundaries | Excessive mobility for young people from peripheral areas |
| Digital solutions (virtual apprenticeships, distance training) | Migration of skilled workers from underserved regions |
| Targeted promotion of professions in shortage regions | Unequal opportunities undermine meritocratic principle |
Action Relevance
For Cantons and Municipalities
- Step 1: Identify shortage regions and shortage professions in your region.
- Indicator: Apprenticeship rate per young person, coverage of professional groups.
- Decision: Invest in training places or mobility support.
For Professional Associations
- Step 1: Analyze which professions are underrepresented in which regions.
- Indicator: Trainee density per profession and region.
- Decision: Develop recruitment strategies for underserved areas.
For Schools and Career Guidance
- Step 1: Inform young people transparently about regional opportunities and mobility options.
- Indicator: How many young people change regions for apprenticeships?
- Decision: Specifically support young people with limited local supply.
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central statements and figures verified (Source: FIVT study, FSO data 2021/22)
- [x] Unverified data marked with ⚠️
- [x] Methodological basis comprehensible and scientifically sound
- [x] Bias or political one-sidedness: None detected; study is descriptive, not normative
Additional Research
⚠️ Note: Additional sources not available in metadata. The following data would deepen the analysis:
- Long-term trends: How have regional disparities developed over the last 10 years?
- Cantonal differences: Which cantons actively invest in equal opportunity?
- Mobility barriers: How many young people forgo apprenticeships because of commute distance?
- Career changers: How many young people switch to locally available professions instead of desired profession?
References
Primary Source:
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (FIVT) – Press Release of 29 January 2026: "Place of residence influences access to apprenticeships"
https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/HaPBMY29YXEJyf4CoUem6
Referenced Study:
Kuhn, A. & Schweri, J. (2026). Regional differences in access to dual apprenticeships. Swiss Observatory for Vocational Education, FIVT.
Data Basis:
Federal Statistical Office (FSO): Data on vocational basic education, training year 2021/22.
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on 29 January 2026
Footer (Transparency Notice)
This text was created with the support of Claude.
Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 29 January 2026