Unemployment threatens to undermine Scottish pledge

14:27 26th May 2009

The scale of unemployment among Scottish trainees over the course of the last year is threatening to undermine the Scottish first minister's jobs pledge.

Alex Salmond promised earlier this year that there would be a job waiting for every successful apprentice on completion of their training course, but more than 1,000 have become unemployed since April last year, reports the Sunday Mail.

With only 321 finding alternative employment since losing their original jobs, Labour has accused Mr Salmond of letting down young people across the country.

John Park MSP, a spokesman for Labour, told the paper: "I am angry and appalled apprentices are being let down by Alex Salmond. We need him to keep his word."

John Swinney, the finance secretary, said 75,000 trainee positions are to be provided using £95 million worth of funding from Europe.

Offering additional training opportunities could help young people pursue career changes and improve their skills sets, enabling them to find better, more stable employment.

In related news, a new organisation called Bringing Enterprise to Life has been launched in the West Midlands, to encourage more start-up companies to become established in the region.