PurposeThe paper describes the Swiss Vocational Education and Training (VET) system, its crucial role and challenges with respect to the inclusion of vulnerable groups and investigates the effectiveness of the efforts undertaken to promote inclusion in VET so far.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical research focusing on various indicators of inclusion (national monitoring data and own studies) is analysed.FindingsThe overall findings show that equity and inclusion of persons with a migration background or special education needs in VET have been successfully promoted but can be improved.Research limitations/implicationsLong-term, in-depth longitudinal data regarding some issues are still scarce.Practical implicationsThe paper provides information about young people having difficulties to access and complete VET or who are at-risk of exclusion and points out further courses of action.Originality/valueA comprehensive and detailed account of the current state of inclusion in Swiss VET and of related systemic problems is given.