Angela Constance announced the fund as she launched an employer recruitment initiative.
The Scottish Government will spend £15 million to support up to 10,000 young people into employment in small businesses, the minister said.
This will be supplemented with further funding, including from European Structural Funds, taking the total pot to between £40 million and £50m.
The Government will hold discussions with business representatives in the coming weeks about how the scheme will work.
Contextual targeting label:
Careers and Jobs
