More school-leavers out of work

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 21:59

MORE Scottish school-leavers are ending up unemployed, despite a rise in the number of pupils staying on in education, according to new statistics.

Government figures on those leaving in 2007-8 show the percentage struggling to find work after nine months rose from 12.5 to 15.4 this year.

Meanwhile, 51 per cent stayed in education this year, against 47.9 per cent last year. That comes after huge rises in applications to colleges saw principals plead with the Scottish Government for extra cash to increase places.

Schools minister Keith Brown said improving the options for teenagers who drop out of education was crucial. He said: "Previous economic downturns hold a salutary lesson in the risks of allowing attention to drift from this group." Encouraging teenagers to stay in education was the priority, he added.

The government has increased the numbers of apprenticeships available and provided an extra 16.1 million to boost college places.

Meanwhile the Scottish Funding Council announced a funding pot to help graduates struggling to find a job.