Costs and benefits of dual apprenticeship: Lessons from the Swiss system

Though little known, Switzerland's apprenticeship system has proven its eff ectiveness for nearly a century. On completing their compulsory schooling, nearly two-thirds of the country's young people undertake such training wit h alternating periods of enterprise-based training and attendance at a voca tional school. The system's many advantages include the involvement of ente rprises, easier labour market entry and trilateral funding. Drawing on the findings of a survey of a representative sample of enterprises, the authors explain how the system works and evaluate its costs to enterprises. They t hen examine enterprises' incentives and disincentives to train apprentices and look at the system's future prospects.