Preliminary figures from the Directorate of Education show the number of apprenticeship contracts has increased for the third consecutive year. ‘’It’s good news,’’ said Minister of Knowledge, Jan Tore Sanner of Høyre (H).
The record from 2017 thus appears to be in decline.
By the end of August, a total of 802 more apprentices had received an approved contract as compared to the same time last year. It accounts for 44.3% of applicants, and corresponds to an increase of 2.5%. So far this year, over 11,000 students have received approved learning contracts.
“It is good news that the number of apprenticeship contracts is increasing for the third consecutive year. We need many skilled workers in the years to come. We must therefore work for even more learning places” said Sanner in a press release.
He showed that there are high numbers for vocational subjects,while more and more graduates choose vocational higher education.At the same time, he sent a clear signal to the companies.
“We must work for the positive development to continue. I expect businesses and county municipalities to reinforce their efforts to provide more learning places for motivated youths,” said Sanner.
Vest-Agder topped the statistics with 57, 8% of applicants who have received an approved contract. In Buskerud, only half as many of the students, 28.2%, gained an apprenticeship.
In addition,there is large variation between the subjects: 60% of the students in construction and engineering have received a learning contract, while the same applies to only 24% of the students in media and communication.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
