As you know, the Scottish Government surpassed its youth employment target four years early in 2017 and by 48.3% as opposed to the 40% target. See this for more detail:
This achievement is impressive and is testimony to the Scottish government’s initiatives including the Developing the Young Workforce programme based on education, improved careers advice, work experience and modern apprenticeship opportunities. Most recently, they have announced £96 million of funding to create fairer employment support services to help the disabled and those facing social and economic barriers to get into and to stay in work.
The impetus is clearly still there for 2018 as the Scottish Government-funded Skills Development Scotland announced plans to create 3 500 new-style apprenticeship places. See this from a report in Insider:
‘The national skills body’s figures consist of 2 600 foundation apprenticeships for school pupils and more than 900 graduate apprenticeships Bottom of FormTop of Form. Bottom of Form
Skills Development Scotland has announced that 3 500 new-style apprenticeship places are to be created in 2018. The SDS figure is made up of 2 600 foundation apprenticeships for pupils and more than 900 graduate apprenticeships. They are intended to provide educational qualifications and workplace training for both senior school pupils and graduates and are an addition to the national skills body’s modern apprentice programme which last year supported 26,000 apprentices. SDS says it is committed to increasing that number to 30,000 by 2020.’
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/skills-development-scotland-apprenticeship-places-11841441
Youth unemployment in Scotland is the fifth lowest in Europe at 9.4% and lower than the UK figure of 12.1% in 9th place. If we had a Labour or any other administration they’d be crowing about it, so the SNP must take a fair share of the credit.
Talking-up Scotland 
Hi John – Your article shows what a Scottish Govt focussed on Scottish needs can achieve. This snippet from the beeb northern Ireland webpage gives a useful reminder of just what poor governance is offered when Westminster/Whitehall Direct Rule is in place:
Daisy Hill Hospital: Pensioner’s three-day wait for bed
By Marie-Louise ConnollyBBC News NI Health Correspondent
A 79-year-old woman with pneumonia had to wait almost three days to be admitted to a hospital ward.
The pensioner was picked up by ambulance on Saturday evening and taken to the Emergency Department of Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.
She was taken to a ward 67 hours later – at 13:30 GMT on Tuesday. Her family said the ordeal was “horrendous”.
The Southern Health Trust says the length of time was unacceptable and have apologised.
The woman’s family blamed the situation on a lack of government.
In a statement to the BBC they said their anger was “in no way” directed at the staff.
“Our anger is in no way directed at the hospital staff, but instead at Stormont.
“This crisis is a direct result of our lack of government and we would urge all politicians to get a government running again as soon as possible.”
I don’t imagine the Col’s Tartan 13 took that into consideration when their votes enabled the Brexit (Scottish Parliament Power Grab) Bill to pass unamended to the Lords? (Or maybe they did – and just couldn’t give a damn – ‘cos, you know, I’m all right Jack?)
LikeLiked by 2 people