Situation
Region Zealand is experiencing positive development, with economic progress and a rising level of educational attainment among young people. This is reflected, among other things, in a higher proportion of 25-year-olds with upper secondary education and more people choosing vocational education and training. The forthcoming merger with the Capital Region of Denmark into the Region of Eastern Denmark opens up new opportunities to strengthen education provision and ensure that all young people, regardless of where they live, have access to relevant educational opportunities.
Complication
Despite the positive trends, Region Zealand still has a high proportion of young people on public benefits and weaker educational attachment than the rest of the country. At the same time, there are marked geographical differences, with the outlying municipalities in particular having fewer upper secondary education programmes and more young people outside the labour market. This challenges the region’s development opportunities, particularly in the run-up to the merger with the Capital Region of Denmark. To gain a clearer picture of what is driving these differences, and how the region can strengthen young people’s educational pathways going forward, Region Zealand asked Epinion to examine the structures and conditions affecting young people’s opportunities, and where the need for action is greatest.
Recommendation
The analysis points to significant potential for strengthening young people’s attachment to education and the labour market in Region Zealand. By maintaining a focus on creating greater geographical balance and coherence in education provision, the region can create better opportunities for all young people, regardless of where they live. The forthcoming merger also provides an opportunity to view education efforts in a broader regional perspective, where experiences and solutions are shared across the region. A shared strategic focus can therefore help to ensure both higher educational attainment and better utilisation of the region’s overall labour force potential.
