At the same time, the labour market today is changing rapidly and new professions are emerging, for which individuals acquire knowledge on their own or while working in a company.
The system of national vocational qualifications (NVQ) allows an individual to obtain an official certificate, which formally verifies this non-formal knowledge. This allows quick adjustment to the situation on the labour market, as it is possible to create bases for the formal recognition of qualifications for new professions in a relatively short time.
The NVQ system also assists acquiring formal conditions for employment. Some companies have based their entire employment system and company internal recruitment on acquisition of a NVQ certificate. A highly qualified worker with inadequate education can be promoted by obtaining an appropriate NVQ certificate; such a certificate verifies professional skills in the event of changing employer.
Between 2003 and 2016, almost 85 000 certificates were awarded, of which about half were for regulated professions in road transport, construction and private security. In the last five years, the number of certificates increased in forestry activities, which is partially regulated. Other areas with many certificates awarded are agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, social services, and engineering and computer science.
