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This study focuses on graduates' transition from Finnish polytechnics to the labour market at a point of time when polytechnic degrees may still be somewhat unfamiliar in the workplace. These degrees are intended to qualify their holders for tasks requiring professional expertise. The results of the study are based on polytechnic graduates' answers (n=1888) to a questionnaire. The findings suggest that the polytechnic graduates have been quite successful in finding employment. In 2003, 82% of the polytechnic graduates from the respective study fields of business and administration, technology and transport, and health and social services were employed, while about 3% were unemployed and the remaining 15% were outside the workforce. Furthermore, most of the employed polytechnic graduates had a permanent position. However, although polytechnic graduates seem to have successfully moved into working life, there is a gap between the (learning) skills acquired in education and the skills actually needed in the workplace. According to the polytechnic graduates, working life demands more skills than their education can offer them. These findings are not surprising because some skills, such as practical skills, including tacit ones, and self-regulation skills are learnt only in working life. There is nonetheless a real challenge here to develop teaching and teaching methods in polytechnics to better meet such needs.