Too many young people are being forced to leave Scotland to find opportunities elsewhere, according to Holyrood's Youth and Training Secretary.
Angela Constance said almost 70,000 people leave the country each year, with more than half of them aged between 16 and 34.
Ms Constance argued that the trend could be reversed with a vote for Scottish independence as she visited New College Lanarkshire in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.
A Yes vote would give the Scottish Government the power to create more jobs to keep talented young people at home, she said.
Ms Constance said: "Westminster hasn't delivered a single economic policy that gives Scotland a competitive edge over London.
As a result, too much of our young talent is forced to leave Scotland.
"We now know that a No vote won't deliver a single new job-creating power for Scotland and that's not good enough for our young people.
"With a Yes, by contrast, we can secure the powers we need to deliver a brighter future for more young people, closer to home."
Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale said: "Instead of leaving the UK, young people in Scotland can lead the UK.
"By saying no thanks to separation we can have the best of both worlds, a strong Scottish Parliament with power over education and enterprise to skill the next generation for tomorrow's challenges and opportunities, whilst still being able to take advantage of being part of something bigger in the United Kingdom." Meanwhile, veterans minister Keith Brown claimed Scotland's 400,000 former servicemen and women would get a better deal with a Yes vote in the referendum.
He has set out five pledges to veterans in the event of independence, including a promise to continue Disability Living Allowance, which is being replaced by Personal Independence Payments (PIP) across the UK.
Mr Brown said: "Under the Scottish Government's plans to reindustrialise Scotland we will see new and better job opportunities for our veterans."
Speaking on behalf of the pro-Union Better Together campaign, West Dunbartonshire MP Gemma Doyle, shadow minister for defence personnel, welfare and veterans, said: "The UK armed forces are the best in the world, and everyone who has served in them deserves dignity and respect after they complete their service.
"But it is disrespectful for the SNP to make any promises when they cannot answer the most basic of questions like what their Plan B on currency is."
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