Making comparable TVET data work for evidence‑informed policymaking

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is central to addressing future skills needs in the context of demographic change and technological transformation. Yet policymakers often lack the comparable, high-quality, and policy-relevant evidence needed to support informed decision making. Despite improvements in data availability, significant gaps remain in key policy areas. Moreover, the availability of data does not automatically translate into better policy. Challenges related to data accessibility, institutional fragmentation, limited analytical capacity, and disconnected datasets continue to constrain the effective use of evidence. Because effective TVET policy requires understanding not only what works, but also why, under what conditions, and at what cost, this policy brief examines the underlying causes of these challenges, reviews ongoing efforts to strengthen the evidence base, and identifies pathways to improve both data availability and its use in policymaking.