'More teens going to university, but fewer finding work'

The number of teenagers finding work after school reached its lowest level for a decade in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, new figures showed.

Scottish Government statistics revealed that more than twice as many youngsters in the least deprived areas went to university after school, as compared to those from the poorest parts of the country.

Overall a total of 92.2% of those who left school in 2019-20 were in what was classed as a “positive follow-up destination” – such as college, university, training or job – by April 2021.

This was down slightly from the 92.9% of school leavers who achieved this the previous year.

University was the most common choice for those leaving school in 2019-20, with 42.9% ending up in higher education – higher than the 38.4% the previous year – and is the largest share since consistent records began in 2009-10.

The figures showed that in the most deprived parts of Scotland just over a quarter (27%) of school leavers last year went on to university, compared to almost two thirds (62.6%) in the most affluent communities.

In the poorest parts of Scotland college was the most common destination, with 31.5% of leavers heading for further education, while 20.5% went into work, but one in 10 (10.8%) were out of work.

This compares to just 3.6% of leavers from the least deprived areas being out of work by April 2021.

A total of 47,351 teenagers finished school in 2019-20, the smallest number since consistent records began in 2009-10.

With just 11.4% of leavers being S4 students, and 25.8% from S5, the report noted that “it is possible that some S4 and S5 pupils who might have otherwise left school in 2019-20 decided instead to stay at school for reasons related to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.”

As well as 42.9% of leavers going on to higher education, the figures showed a very slight increase in the proportion going to college – with this rising from 23.3 for those leaving in 2018-19 to 23.6% in 2019-20.

However the proportion of youngsters who went into work after leaving school fell from 28% in 2018-19 to 21.3% – the lowest figure since 2009-10.

At the same time the proportion who were unemployed after leaving school increased from 5.8% to 6.8%.

Where young people end up after leaving school “may reflect both choices made by pupils, as well as the opportunities available to them”, the report noted.

For the latest group of leavers it said that “the availability of particular opportunities to 2019-20 school leavers may have been directly affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic (employment opportunities, for example)”.

It also noted that leavers’ options may “have been affected by the impact of the 2020 certification approach on school leaver attainment”.