The proportion of those who were established on the labour market was lowest among those who never entered upper secondary school and highest among those who completed upper secondary school with a school-leaving certificate. The proportion of those not working nor studying, as well as the proportion of unemployed persons decreased with higher results from upper secondary school. Furthermore, the better their results in upper secondary school, the less time it took for the young people to find a job.

Two out of ten leave upper secondary school without a school-leaving certificate

Nearly all young people entered upper secondary school, but more than two out of ten left without a school-leaving certificate. The proportion of those without a school-leaving certificate was higher among men than among women. The group lacking a school-leaving certificate from upper secondary school had heterogeneous results: some were only missing a few points to a school-leaving certificate, while others had not even begun a national programme. The results in upper secondary school were lower among young people with poor results from compulsory school and among newly immigrated young people.

School fatigue the main reason for not completing upper secondary school

Half of all young people stated school fatigue as a reason for not entering or completing upper secondary school. Other reasons, although not as common, included that they started to work, and factors linked to school, such as uninvolved teachers. Some respondents stated that a disability or other health-related reasons hindered them from entering or completing upper secondary education. Men to a greater extent stated that they had school fatigue and that they started to work, while women to a greater extent stated health-related reasons and pregnancy or children.