A broken link between technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems and labor markets prevents TVET from delivering on its promise in low- and middle-income countries. With its unique focus on workforce development, TVET has the potential to contribute to employment and productivity to better support sustainable economic transformation.

When TVET functions well, its graduates have the right skills for today’s jobs but are also prepared to adapt in the future as skills need change. Strong TVET systems can help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals by sustainably and efficiently supporting employment and productivity. This promise of TVET is unfulfilled in many low- and middle-income countries because secondary and post-secondary TVET institutions focus on what they know how to provide, but not what students or firms need.