Vocational Training (FP) in the Canary Islands is experiencing a 3% growth in the newly started academic year, with the addition of 183 new groups. The Ministry of Education anticipates that enrollment will reach nearly 50,000 students, a record figure, surpassing the 47,000 from the previous year. The goal is to enhance job placement and contribute to the economic development of the islands.
The Vice-Minister of Vocational Training, Paco Machado, emphasized the priority of decentralizing offerings, enabling FP studies to be available in more municipalities beyond just Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Currently, 175 public centers provide FP across the archipelago. Last-minute registrations, typically between 5,000 and 6,000, are expected to solidify this record number by October 31st.
The expansion of offerings is particularly directed towards qualifications with high demand for workers and good employment prospects, especially in the industrial sector. Fields such as Electricity and electronics, mechanics, automotive, transport and logistics, wood, and energy and water are prioritized. Initial employment rates for these profiles range between 80% and 90%, approaching 100% a few months later.
This strategy addresses the need to fill skilled positions that Canary Islands companies struggle to fill, particularly in trades facing generational succession challenges. The planning of offerings relies on ministry reports, specialized organizations, and continuous contact with island councils (cabildos), city councils, and business organizations to balance labor market demands with student preferences.
The technology sector is also a significant focus, with notable growth in Information Technology and Communications, highlighting areas like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the audiovisual sector benefits from an increase in filming, boosting the need for trained technicians in the islands to retain local employment.
The Ministry aims to combat gender bias in FP, where female students tend to concentrate in fields like Personal Image or Health Sciences, which often have lower hiring rates, while industrial specialties, with more vacancies, have lower female representation. Professional guidance is intended to inform students about all available career possibilities.
The growth of FP also presents a cost challenge due to the requirement for workshops, machinery, and consumable materials. The Ministry expects to allocate resources to enhance equipment to ensure training quality. Dual FP, highly valued by both students and companies (92%), facilitates direct hiring by allowing companies to assess future employees in real work environments.
