Serbian vocational schools see surge as salaries exceed €5,000

Serbia’s secondary vocational schools are attracting increasing numbers of students as graduates can earn salaries of over €5,000, especially in fields such as aviation, IT, hospitality and medical technical professions. The Ministry of Education reports that out of 48,324 students enrolling in four‑year programmes, 15,124 chose gymnasiums while 9,304 entered three‑year vocational tracks, with the aviation academy in Belgrade being the most sought‑after. Dual‑education models, where students split time between classroom instruction and paid on‑the‑job training, are highlighted as a key factor driving the trend, offering practical skills, immediate employment prospects and higher earnings. The article lists nine trades with the strongest demand, including electrician, cook, mason, auto‑mechanic and driver, and notes that many graduates can afford cars, vacations or housing loans already in their early twenties.