Record low of high school grads continue studies

In 2023, only 11% of high school graduates in Denmark started a new education within three months of completing their exams, the lowest since 2008 and a 15% decrease from ten years ago. Noemi Katznelson, a professor and research center leader at Aalborg University, wasn’t surprised, citing that it’s become normalized for youth to pursue other interests before further education. Students who continue studies immediately are often seen as overachievers. Politicians aim to accelerate the transition to higher education due to labor market needs, but this may lead to a harmful cycle if the pace is too intense. Enrollment in new education programs varied by type of high school, with 13% from vocational schools and 10% from general high schools moving on to further studies, compared to 37% and 22% respectively in 2013.