Statement: Securing the future of vocational adult training

In 2024, the Government cut funding for vocational training by EUR 120 million. These cuts are particularly relevant to continuous learning and the needs of working life. Companies and federations in the sector that are part of the Finnish Commerce Federation’s Education Committee express concerns about the impact of cuts on the availability of skilled labour. Companies and employees are appealing to the government that there should be no further cuts in vocational training in the forthcoming mid-term policy review.

“The additional cuts would put the operating conditions for vocational training and apprenticeship training at greater risk,” says Moona Naakka , Senior Advisor of Education at the Finnish Commerce Federation.

The purpose of vocational training is to train experts to meet the needs of working life, and the majority of students are adults. Professionals in the commerce sector will need the possibility to change direction or acquire more competence through, for example, vocational and specialist vocational degrees and by utilising apprenticeship training.

“Employee-based capacity building is key to addressing the challenges of the commerce sector. Vocational and specialist vocational degrees are needed in the digital transformation and to meet the competence needs of the green transition in the sector, for example,” says Eero Löytömäki , Education and Industrial Policy Expert at PAM.

The training providers must have sufficient resources to meet the needs of working life

The cuts have caused uncertainty in the cooperation between companies and educational institutions, as the training providers are currently unable to inform companies about the availability of degrees or smaller training packages. This makes it impossible to plan the capacity building of companies’ personnel.

The training providers that have reduced the training offering have already failed to launch the implementation of degrees that are important for the commerce sector as apprenticeship training, have reduced the number of students and have discontinued entire degrees. Changes have been observed especially in vocational degrees in first-level management, business and entrepreneurship, and in specialist vocational degrees in business and management and business management.

“The changes in vocational and specialist vocational degrees that are important for the commerce sector will have a significant impact on the capacity building of companies. For the employer, the established degree modules of the apprenticeship system have provided a means of supporting the continuous learning and career development of the personnel in the long term. In addition, apprenticeship training is a cost-effective way to deepen and expand competence as work tasks change with business needs. Both the employer and the employee benefit greatly from learning practical skills and the company’s modes of operation while working in the actual working environment,” says Sanna Raiskio , Chairperson of the Education Committee at the Finnish Commerce Federation.

These degrees are significant for companies and employees in the commerce sector from the point of view of capacity building. It is important to remember that, in addition to these business and administration degrees, the sector also needs degrees in technology and service industries, such as ICT, automotive, service logistics, machine installation, art and textile and fashion industries. The availability of these degrees is a prerequisite for the operations of companies in the commerce sector.

Ensuring the availability of degrees requires that the training providers have sufficient operational and financial resources to meet the needs of working life. Costs cannot be left to the sole responsibility of employees or employers.

Let’s secure the future of vocational adult education in the upcoming mid-term policy review. The message from federations and companies is that there must be no cuts to education.

Helsinki, 3 April 2025

Finnish Commerce Federation
Service Union United PAM
Stockmann (Lindex Group Oyj)
R-kioski Oy
Academic Bookstore
Lidl Suomi Ky
Ramirent Finland Oy
Kesko Oyj
Gigantti Oy
SOK HR operations
Oy Transmeri Group Ab
JYSK Oy
Tokmanni Oy
SKS Group
Verkkokauppa.com Oyj
The Finnish Electronics and Home Appliances Trade Association
Finnish Health Product Retailers Association
The K-Retailers’ Association
The Finnish Central Organisation for Motor Trade and Repairs

For further information, please contact:

Moona Naakka, Senior Advisor, Education, Finnish Commerce Federation, tel. +358(0) 45 651 8474, moona.naakka@kauppa.fi

Eero Löytömäki, Education and Industry Policy Expert, Service Union United PAM, tel. +358(0) 20 774 2098, eero.loytomaki@PAM.fi