SCOTTISH pupils are increasingly securing a job rather than going to university or college when they leave school, according to new figures.
Official statistics show nearly 28 per cent of pupils were in employment nine months after leaving school in 2014/15 compared to fewer than a quarter in 2010/11.
Meanwhile, the proportion of school-leavers going to university or college dropped from 62.5 per cent in 2013/14 compared to 60.2 per cent the following year.
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The shift comes at a time when the jobs market is recovering and competition for university places is at an all time high. The number of part time places at colleges have also been cut.
Dr Kristinn Hermannsson, a lecturer in educational economics at Glasgow University, said the trend also reflected the fact that more pupils were staying on at school to improve their qualifications.
He said: "The statistics show clearly that the number of pupils staying on at school has increased over time and therefore pupils are improving their skills which will be of benefit to them when they leave because it will make them more employable."
Garry Clark, a spokesman for the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, welcomed the increase as a sign that employment was now being seen as a positive option for school-leavers alongside university.
He said: "Over the past few years there has been a clear focus from government and business on tackling youth unemployment and businesses have delivered high levels of employment over that time.
"The fact so many young people are being attracted to employment is also evidence that the message is getting through to young people, their parents and teachers that there is a variety of fruitful career paths out there rather than just the academic route through university.
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"Employment, accompanied by on the job training and skills development, can be a very attractive option for young people looking to start out on their careers."
The figures from Scotland’s Chief Statistician also revealed that fewer than one in 12 children in care leave school with one or more Highers compared to three-fifths of all students in Scotland.
In 2014/15, more than 60 per cent of all school leavers had achieved at least one Higher, but in the most deprived parts of Scotland the proportion was 41 per cent while just eight per cent of those in care achieved the benchmark. In the most affluent communities, more than 80 per cent of school-leavers had at least one Higher.
Tavish Scott, education spokesman for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: "That is not good enough. We have a duty of care to these young people that is not being met."
John Swinney, the Education Secretary, said the figures showed there was "much more" to do to raise attainment and ensure all young people had the very best educational opportunities regardless of their background.
Three-fifths of all school leavers went on to university or college, the figures show, with 36.8 per cent in higher education and 23.4 per cent in further education. Just over seven per cent of leavers were unemployed.
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Overall, 92 per cent of all those who left school in 2014/15 were in a "positive destination" such as a job, training or a place at college or university.
But the figures also show a small rise in the number of leavers with no qualifications - up from 1.7 per cent in 2013/14 to 2.1 per cent in 2014/15.
The report also shows some councils in Scotland are failing to meet PE targets in secondary schools - which should see pupils provided with 100 minutes every week.
The worst performing local authority is West Dunbartonshire, which has fallen from 80 per cent last year to just 60 per cent in 2016. And in Angus the figure has dropped from 100 per cent in 2015 to just 88 per cent in 2016.
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