Career guidance connected to the world of work: “Companies must be part of the solution”

We took part in the 2nd “Un cafè amb FP” Conference by Escola Pia Catalunya to reflect on guidance, business and educational dropout

At Fundación Exit we took part in the 2nd edition of “Un cafè amb FP”, organised by Escola Pia Catalunya, a space for discussion and reflection on the current challenges facing Vocational Education and Training (VET), and especially on how to improve educational and career guidance for young people.

The event brought together representatives from the education, social and business sectors to address key issues such as early school leaving, the connection between VET and the labour market, and the role of companies in young people’s educational pathways.

Representing Fundación Exit, our director, Nacho Sequeira, highlighted the need to strengthen intermediate-level training and bring the education system closer to labour market realities.

A structural challenge: a shortage of intermediate-skilled profiles

During his speech, Nacho Sequeira explained how the Spanish labour market presents an unbalanced structure: on one hand, there is a high percentage of people who do not complete compulsory education and, on the other, a large number of university graduates. However, there is a shortage of people with intermediate-level qualifications — precisely where Vocational Education and Training plays a strategic role.

“Countries like Germany have a much stronger structure at these intermediate training levels,” he noted, reminding attendees that companies increasingly need these types of profiles and that VET is essential to meet this demand.

He also reflected on the mismatch between young people’s career aspirations and the evolution of the labour market. Drawing on data from the PISA report, he highlighted that although the labour market is changing rapidly, teenagers continue to imagine almost the same professions as they did more than twenty years ago.

“In a context where new occupations and sectors are constantly emerging, young people continue to envision only a very limited number of professions,” he said.

Guidance works

One of the main messages shared during the event was the importance of educational and career guidance based on real-life experiences.

At Fundación Exit, we shared evidence collected by the OECD showing that young people who take part in guidance activities linked to self-awareness, labour market exploration and direct contact with professionals achieve better long-term employment and life outcomes.

Among the activities with the greatest impact are:

• Meetings with career guidance professionals.
• Company visits.
• Career discovery experiences.
• Direct contact with the world of work.

However, it is important to underline that early school leaving is a complex and multi-causal phenomenon. As highlighted in several European studies, it is influenced by personal and family factors, organisational aspects of the education system, and elements related to the labour market.

Companies must be part of the solution

Another key theme of Nacho Sequeira’s intervention, Director of Fundación Exit, was the role of companies in guiding and supporting young people.

During the conference, we reflected on how the relationship between companies and social organisations has evolved: from models based solely on philanthropy to approaches more focused on sustainability, strategic partnerships and social impact.

“If we talk about guidance and educational dropout, one essential stakeholder cannot be missing: companies,” explained Nacho Sequeira.

In this regard, we shared how new European regulations on sustainability and non-financial reporting are encouraging many companies to become more actively involved in educational and social projects. In addition, more and more companies understand that collaborating in guidance and training initiatives also helps them address one of their main challenges: talent shortages.

A roundtable to share experiences and common challenges

The event concluded with a roundtable discussion featuring representatives from different areas connected to Vocational Education and Training, guidance and business. The discussion provided an opportunity to share practical experiences and analyse how to strengthen collaboration among the different stakeholders involved in tackling educational dropout and improving youth employability.

Topics discussed included:

• The need to update career guidance to adapt to a changing labour market.
• The challenge of bringing companies closer to educational centres in a structured and lasting way.
• The importance of creating real career discovery experiences.
• The difficulties many companies face in filling certain positions.
• The value of Dual VET and territorial partnerships.

At Fundación Exit, we contributed our experience in school-to-work guidance and training programmes aimed at young people in situations of social vulnerability, developed together with socially committed companies.

Our participation in this second edition of “Un cafè amb FP: Guidance: from the classroom to the professional world” once again demonstrates our commitment to guidance that is more connected to social and labour market realities, as well as to building partnerships between the education, social and business sectors to create more opportunities for young people.