Faglærð

Faglærð is an Icelandic term used to describe a person who has completed vocational education and holds a recognized trade qualification, enabling them to perform skilled, occupation-specific work. It is commonly applied to workers in trades and professions that require practical training, such as construction, electrical work, plumbing, health care support, hospitality, and IT. The term marks a distinction from those whose primary training is academic or university-based, highlighting practical competence in a specific field.

The adjective inflects for gender and number: masculine form faglærður, feminine form faglærð, neuter form faglært, with corresponding plural forms. In everyday usage, phrases like faglært starfsfólk or faglærðir starfsmenn are common in job postings and discussions about the labor market.

In Icelandic education, vocational education and training are provided through secondary schools with vocational tracks and through apprenticeship arrangements, leading to a recognized qualification. This pathway is an established route into many skilled occupations and is commonly pursued alongside academic tracks. Vocational qualifications are central in labor-market policy and workforce planning, with emphasis on expanding access to relevant training to meet demand in trades and services.

Overall, faglærð denotes a status of professional competence gained through practical, occupation-focused education, emphasizing hands-on skills and applicability in the workforce.