So many people in Austria drop out of their education

In total, 469,800 adolescents and young adults have dropped out of formal education during their educational career. Of these, 48,000 people have experienced multiple dropouts or changes in their education, as shown by the results of the "Young People in the Labor Market" module of the 2024 Microcensus Labor Force Survey.

People from new EU countries drop out of education less frequently

The highest completed education makes a difference here: By far, AHS graduates most frequently dropped out of education after graduation (33 percent). They are followed by people with a maximum of compulsory education (24) or tertiary education (22). Dropouts are least common among people with apprenticeships (17.5) and BHS graduation (19).

Birthplace is also a factor: Adolescents and young adults born abroad drop out of education less frequently than those born in Austria (20 compared to 23 percent). By far the smallest proportion is among people from the new EU member states (from 2004) at 14 percent. People from the EU-14 (before 2004) are again above the overall average (25), which is due to the more frequent dropouts of men in this group (30 percent compared to 20 for women).

Reasons why people drop out of education

The largest share of dropouts and changes in education is in university studies (43 percent), especially in bachelor's programs. 26 percent are in the upper levels of AHS or vocational higher schools (BHS), and a fifth of all dropouts or changes occur in apprenticeships. As a reason for dropping out or changing, 52 percent stated that the education did not meet their expectations or was too difficult. At universities, 63 percent even cited this as a motive. With a significant gap, the desire to work instead or financial motives follow.

Almost 14 percent cited other personal reasons such as illness or disability, but also allergies to certain work materials. This was particularly often cited as the main reason for dropping out of an apprenticeship or changing the apprenticeship profession (24 percent). Other reasons included caring for children or dependent relatives or other family reasons (four percent), and eight percent of dropouts did not fall into any of the proposed response categories. For the survey, almost 7,300 people aged 15 to 34 were interviewed as part of the Austrian Microcensus Labor Force Survey.

(APA/Red)

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