In Serbia, several vocational high school programs are facing closure despite offering strong employment prospects and starting salaries of up to 150,000 dinars. These fields, often tied to industry and technical professions, struggle to attract enough students, leading to a gradual shutdown of entire departments.
The paradox highlights a growing mismatch between the education system and labor market needs.
While companies are actively seeking skilled workers and offering stable positions immediately after graduation, many students continue to favor general education paths, leaving vocational tracks under-enrolled and increasingly unsustainable.
Experts warn that shutting down these programs could deepen Serbia’s workforce shortage in key sectors, urging reforms to better align education policies with economic demand and to promote vocational careers among younger generations.
