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The OECD’s Vocational Education and Training and the Green Transition in Finland report explores how Finland’s strong vocational education and training (VET) system can accelerate progress toward its ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. The green transition will reshape labour markets, reducing jobs in high-emission industries while creating demand in renewable energy, sustainable construction, and clean technologies.
VET is well placed to bridge skills gaps by combining technical training, green values, and lifelong learning. In Finland, nearly half of young people pursue VET, and many graduates already work in jobs affected by the transition. Yet they are underrepresented in new high-skill green occupations, and overrepresented in greenhouse gas-intensive roles, leaving them vulnerable to disruption.
The report highlights four strategic areas for reform:
(i) updating VET qualifications more rapidly and aligning them with green skills needs,
(ii) expanding post-secondary VET pathways to supply higher-level technical skills,
(iii) strengthening career guidance to attract diverse learners into green jobs, and
(iv) enhancing teacher readiness through professional development and industry links.
Recommendations include developing micro-qualifications for fast-changing roles, engaging social partners in curriculum design, improving reporting and monitoring of local units, and embedding sustainability in teacher training. Expanding specialist vocational qualifications and smoother pathways to universities of applied sciences would also strengthen the talent pipeline.
Overall, the OECD argues Finland’s modular, flexible VET system offers a solid foundation to support a just and inclusive green transition, if backed by timely reforms, closer employer collaboration, and strong investment in teaching capacity and learner guidance
