A record 89.9 per cent of school leavers in Scotland are going into work, training or education upon leaving school.
The figures collected from schools and local authorities and published by Skills Development Scotland show:
- 1.5 per cent increase in the rate of school leavers going to university
- 1.2 per cent decrease in the proportion of school leavers unemployed and seeking work
- The percentage of school leavers going into employment has increased.
Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance added:
“It is fantastic that we have achieved an historic high in the number of school leavers going into work, education or training.
“Today’s figures show a record 89.9 per cent of our young people are rightly securing opportunities after school. However one young person not in training or employment is one too many.
“That’s why we are investing heavily, more than £80 million, in our young people, their potential and talent, to improve their life chances and help boost Scotland’s economy. We have given every 16 to 19 year old the unique promise of a place in education or training as part our Opportunities for All scheme.
”The most recent youth employment figures showed that Scotland has the highest employment, lowest unemployment and lowest economic inactivity for young people in the UK. With full fiscal powers and independence we could do even more to emulate the labour markets of the best performing European countries.”