Plans to cut youth unemployment in Scotland

Vocational education in Scotland must be improved if youth unemployment is to be cut, a new report has suggested.

According to a commission, chaired by Sir Ian Wood, employers should be playing a much larger role in the provision of careers advice and guidance to pupils in schools and colleges. 

Measures laid out in the report - including better careers education in primary schools, preparation for apprenticeships during the senior phase of secondary school and more support for employers taking on young people - would help cut unemployment among young people by as much as 40 per cent, Sir Ian said.

Other proposals laid out included developing closer links between employers and schools, improving the gender balance in training and ensuring that barriers for young disabled people, care leavers and minority ethnic groups are removed so that they are more able to take up training opportunities.

"It's all about building a bridge between school and college into business and industry," said Sir Ian. 

According to the BBC, nearly a fifth of 16-24 year-olds were out of work in Scotland earlier this year. In response to the gravity of the situation, the Scottish government established the commission, which has been consulting with industry and education over the past 18 months.

The news provider states that the report warns not enough is being done to equip young people for the challenges they will face in the workplace. "There must be much more focus on providing them with the skills, qualifications and vocational pathways that will lead directly to employment opportunities."

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