TVET, Step-Up
TVET
STEP-UP: Skills Training, Trades, Entrepreneurship – Pathways for Upwards Mobility
Skills for Growth
Pakistan has one of the world’s youngest populations, with approximately 64% of its 240 million people under the age of 30 and this demographic trend is expected to continue until at least 2050.[1] Pakistan can either take advantage of this youth bulge by investing in education, skills, and employment to reap a demographic dividend, or risk rising unemployment and economic stagnation if these opportunities are missed.
As many as 4.5 million individuals are unemployed in the country, with the youth aged 15-24 having the highest unemployment rate of 11.1 per cent.[2] Furthermore, nearly 75 percent of Pakistan’s working-age population is employed in the informal sector,[3] leaving the majority of workers without access to formal protections, decent wages, or career advancement opportunities. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) provides a practical pathway to enhance the human capital of young people who are unable to pursue tertiary education because of financial barriers or limited motivation.[4] It also offers a potential to transition informal economy workers into the formal labor market by equipping them with certified, market-recognized skills, as well as engaging school dropouts. Studies have found graduates of TVET programs are more likely to see an increase in earnings, improved employment rates and better working aptitude.[5]
Pakistan’s TVET sector currently faces a variety of challenges. Only about 4% of Pakistani youth enroll in vocational or technical training, with most young people preferring to pursue academic paths, leaving a large gap in skilled trades. [6] Many TVET centers suffer from infrastructural shortfalls, such as obsolete equipment, limited funding, and insufficient teacher training. Additionally, industry–academy linkages are weak, so training does not keep pace with modern industry standards.[7] The TVET system produces roughly 0.45 million trained workers per year, far below
[1] UNDP, 2018. Unleashing the Potential of a Young Pakistan.
[2] PES, 2023-2024.
[3] Labour Force Survey (2020-2021).
[4] Bolli et al., 2021; Landberg & Noack, 2022
[5] Khan & Ali, 2024. “Who Demands Technical and Vocational Education in Pakistan? A PSLM Analysis of Socio-Economic Determinants.”
[6] Tabassum et al., 2025. Critical Evaluation of current Policies and Practices in TVET and its impact on Employment and Industry in Pakistan.
[7] Bano et al., 2022. “Emerging Challenges in Technical Vocational Education and Training of Pakistan in the Context of CPEC.”
estimated annual demand of 1 million.[1] Without better alignment between training programs and market needs, many industries will continue to struggle with skill shortages, restricting growth opportunities.
As a response to the persistent structural challenges in Pakistan’s TVET sector, I-SAPS continues to drive its STEP-UP initiative, leveraging over 15 years of experience in evidence-driven policy action. STEP-UP seeks to bridge the skills gap, align training with labor market needs, and enhance the employability of youth by fostering stronger linkages between training providers and industries. It undertakes public financing analyses, supply-demand assessments based on data-driven evidence, and qualification development aligned with industry requirements, ensuring TVET programs remain relevant to market needs. STEP-UP strengthens pathways for both local and overseas employment, connecting skilled workers to domestic and international job markets to drive economic growth. To promote inclusive growth and ensure that all segments of the workforce are recognized, a key focus of the STEP-UP program is the Recognition of Prior Learning, which aims to formally validate and certify the skills individuals have gained through informal work. The initiative also promotes entrepreneurship as a pathway for self-employment and sustainable livelihoods, equipping youth with the skills and support needed to start and grow their own businesses.
Given the critical role of human capital investment in GDP growth, STEP-UP works to support the public sector and industry to optimize funding allocations, improve training infrastructure, and enhance transparency through digital monitoring and evaluation systems. By integrating management information systems, STEP-UP contributes to a future-ready workforce. Through these efforts, the initiative plays a transformative role in advancing Pakistan’s TVET landscape, equipping individuals with the skills necessary for economic prosperity while supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and business startups.
Range of Our Services Include:
1- Policy Analysis
2- Technical Assistance Services for Government and Corporate Sector
3- Accredited Short Courses and Diploma Programs (Nationally and Internationally Certified)
4- Workforce Training and Skills Development for Successful Job market Integration
5- Market-Skill Connectivity Analysis, Tracer Studies, and Labor Market Assessments
6- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) frameworks and services
7-Training of Trainers (ToT) for Sustainable Capacity Building
8- Management Information Systems (MIS) design and implementation
9- Job and Market Placement Services for Apprentices and Certified Workforce
[1] National Skill Information System (NSIS), 2022.
