The Global TVET Data Report project is an OECD-led international initiative developed in collaboration with countries, international organisations and experts to strengthen the global evidence base for TVET. The project aims to support more informed policymaking and stronger TVET systems worldwide by improving the availability, comparability and policy relevance of TVET data and indicators. This is ever more relevant due to the rapid transformation of economies and labour markets, driven by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, demographic change and the green transition.
Global Technical and Vocational Education and Training Data Report
Strengthening the global evidence base for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) through better data, improved comparability and stronger policy insights
About
Three pillars of the project
Impact
- A clearer global picture of TVET
For the first time, policymakers will have a consolidated view of where TVET data exists, where it doesn't, and what that means for evidence-based decisions.
- Data that travels across borders
Stronger comparability means countries can benchmark their TVET systems against others, not just track their own progress in isolation.
- A foundation for better policy, not just better statistics
Insights generated through this work are designed to directly inform national and international TVET policy choices, closing the gap between data collection and data use.
How
Broad international partnership
The Global Technical and Vocational Education and Training Data Report (GTDR) is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ) and developed in strategic collaboration with the UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNESCO-UNEVOC), the European Training Foundation (ETF), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), with contributions from national statistical agencies and regional multilateral organisations.
Informal Group of Experts
Bringing together experts and institutions to strengthen TVET measurement and comparability.
Global collaborative effort
A global collaborative effort to improve TVET data for better policies, stronger systems and more inclusive skills development.
Why it matters
TVET plays a central role in supporting competitiveness, productivity, inclusion and social mobility. Yet governments often lack the comparable and policy-relevant data needed to assess whether TVET systems are preparing learners for changing labour-market needs.
This has practical consequences. Without reliable and comparable TVET data, governments may struggle to identify where skills shortages are emerging, assess whether apprenticeships and work-based learning are effective, target investment where it is most needed, or monitor whether learners move successfully into employment. It also makes it harder for countries to learn from each other, as similar indicators may reflect different definitions, classifications or reporting practices.
The Global TVET Data Report project responds to this challenge by focusing on the usability and harmonisation of TVET data. Without stronger data, governments risk designing reforms based on partial evidence, underestimating gaps in provision or outcomes, and missing opportunities to improve the quality, relevance and attractiveness of TVET. By identifying critical data gaps, strengthening comparable indicators and fostering international co-ordination, the project aims to support better-informed policy decisions and a stronger global evidence base for TVET reform.
