The Scottish Government has been accused of failing young people after figures showed the number of young people starting apprenticeships is at its lowest level in 12 years.
The number of 16 to 24-year-olds beginning apprenticeships has fallen from 13,247 in 2014/15 to 9,400 in 2025/26.
The figures, released by Skills Development Scotland, are the lowest recorded in 12 years, excluding 2020/201 which was impacted by Covid lockdowns.
They also show that starts for 20 to 24-year-olds has decreased from 6,877 in 2014/15 to 4,491.
However, the number of apprenticeship starts for over-25s increased from 5,123 12 years ago to 10,958 in the latest year.
Scottish Labour said the decline came as one in six (16%) young people in Scotland were not in education, work or training.
Daniel Johnson, the party’s economy spokesman, urged the Government to take action.
He said: “It is shocking that in spite of grand promises from the SNP, young people are being failed.
“Funding cuts and political decisions made by the SNP in government have led to this fall. Not only are our young people being deprived of opportunities, but our economy will suffer as a direct result. This is unacceptable.
“The government must take responsibility for this failure and take urgent action to address this new low and ensure that this generation of talent is nurtured and given every opportunity to succeed.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The current challenging economic conditions, including higher costs of employment because of the UK Labour Government’s national insurance increase and other factors like energy prices, have most likely impacted the number of modern apprenticeship starts in these latest statistics, but the Scottish Government remains strongly committed to supporting people, learning providers and employers with investment in our workforce, developing the skills the economy and our society needs both now and in the future.
“The rate of those achieving their modern apprenticeships this year was 80.3%, which is the highest recorded at quarter four to date.
“More broadly, over 39,000 modern apprentices are in workplace training, backed by around £198 million of Scottish Government investment in apprenticeships.
“Working with partners, we will continue to build on this strength and deliver more and more opportunities.”