At the intersection of the education system and the economic system, the foundations for future career paths and life opportunities are laid. The transition to working life is therefore a crucial phase in a young person's biography. How this transition unfolds is heavily influenced by individual characteristics. However, individual factors alone are not sufficient to explain the success of the transition. The possible educational pathways are also determined by the structure of the education system and the labor market. Based on data from over 30,000 young people, Florian Keller analyzes, on one hand, which factors facilitate entry into vocational training at the secondary level, and on the other hand, which factors promote the successful completion of a certified training program. The results show that the chances of transition are significantly dependent on the labor market and education.