Trends, Patterns, and Determinants of Vocational Education and Training in Himachal Pradesh: Evidence from EUS and PLFS (2011–12 to 2023–24)

Abstract

This study examines the trends, patterns, and determinants of vocational education and training (VET) in Himachal Pradesh from 2011–12 to 2023–24. It aims to analyze the scale, demographic composition, social distribution and employment outcomes of formal vocational training, identifies the key socio-economic and regional factors influencing participation. The study is based on unit-level data from the Employment and Unemployment Survey 2011–12 with sample size of 459,784 persons and Periodic Labour Force Survey rounds from 2017–18 to 2023–24, with sample sizes spanning from 410,818 to 433,339 persons per round. Descriptive statistics were employed to examine temporal trends in formal vocational training across gender, age, social, religious and district categories. Unemployment rate and labour force participation rate among formally trained individuals were computed to assess employment outcomes. A binomial logit model was estimated to identify the determinants of vocational training participation. The proportion of formally trained individuals in the labour force escalated from 6.09% in 2011–12 to 13.24% in 2023–24, peaking at 16.07% in 2022–23. Female participation rose significantly, reaching 61.32% of all formally trained persons in 2023–24. Participation improved among Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, while Scheduled Tribes remained underrepresented. Youth (15–34 years) constituted the majority of trained individuals, though middle-aged participation increased over time. Despite expansion in training, unemployment among trained persons fluctuated, reaching 15.54% in 2023–24, indicating demand-side constraints. Logit results show that general education, technical education, gender, and district-level factors significantly influence participation, with higher education increasing the likelihood of training. While formal vocational training in Himachal Pradesh has expanded considerably, employment outcomes remain uneven. Policy efforts should emphasize on aligning skill training with labour market demand and ensure equitable access across social groups and regions to promote sustainable and inclusive skill development.