Business Climate Survey. Section on the Current Entrepreneurial Situation. Q1/2026

In the first quarter of 2026, 34.9% of business establishments in Catalonia reported that in the last 3 years they have recruited graduates in vocational training, 5.2% of business establishments have not done so despite needing to, and 57.8% have not needed to recruit graduates in vocational training.

A total of 81.1% of the establishments that have recruited graduates in vocational training in the last 3 years were satisfied or very satisfied with their training and skills.

A total of 18.6% of establishments reported that the recruiting of graduates in vocational training accounted for more than half of the total recruitments over the last 3 years. Establishments with fewer than 10 employees accounted for the highest proportion of establishments (28.1%) reporting that more than half of the recruitments made in the last 3 years have been graduates in vocational training. On the other hand, 33.7% of establishments reported that these recruitments have accounted for between 25% and 50% over the total. Finally, 47.7% of establishments reported that fewer than a quarter of recruitments in the last 3 years have been graduates in vocational training.

Among the establishments that have not recruited graduates in vocational training despite needing to, the main reason reported for not doing so was the lack of professionals with appropriate training for the required profile (55.4%). This was followed by the lack of candidates applying for the selection process (24.6%), which was the main reason in the sector of accommodation and food service activities (68.9%).

A total of 30.4% of establishments in Catalonia reported that they engage in some type of collaboration with schools that teach vocational education. The establishments that collaborate do so mainly by offering work placements to students (91.1%) and by hosting students in companies as part of dual vocational training programmes (55.6%).