£90 million investment to tackle economic inactivity.
A series of measures to address long-term unemployment, boost
economic growth and tackle child poverty have been detailed by
Deputy First Minister .
Funding of £90 million in the draft Scottish Budget for 2026-27
is expected to help up to 7,500 people furthest from the labour
market into work, with thousands more expected to benefit from
qualifications and training.
Initiatives will include:
- A £40 million package to help parents most at risk of poverty
into jobs and training courses
- Investment of £5 million in specialist services to help
disabled people access and sustain meaningful employment
- £39 million for No One Left Behind to support people furthest
from work towards employment
Ms Forbes also announced a major marketing campaign providing
parents with advice to help them get back into work.
Visiting McTaggart Construction, a business which provides
on-site training to help people into work as part of the Scottish
Government's No One Left Behind approach, Ms Forbes said:
"Our employability services are helping people into work who may
otherwise face barriers to employment due to factors such as
illness, disability or simply taking time out to have a family.
With the involvement of employers like McTaggart
Construction, we are building people's confidence and providing
access to new skills.
“Tackling economic inactivity is a win-win situation - it boosts
the economy and tackles child poverty by providing families with
a secure income – and our £90 million Budget commitment will
enable more people to access employment support.”
Liam Long, a new dad secured training and then a full-time job at
McTaggart Construction with the support of No One Left Behind
services after being out-of-work due to a period of illness,
said:
"Coming through the All in Glasgow programme and First Step
Future Training gave me the opportunity to get my foot in the
door. That placement opened the door to a permanent role with
McTaggart Construction.
“I've just become a dad, and the two weeks' paternity pay meant
everything to me. I'm proud to work for a company that genuinely
invests in its people and supports them through moments in life."
Background
Between April 2019 and June 2025, Scotland's employability
services supported 28,699 people into jobs, with 13,222 being
supported into further education or training, 17,513 gaining a
qualification, 6,142 starting work experience and 3,175 starting
volunteering.
Latest estimates sourced from the Office for National Statistics'
Labour Force Survey indicate the estimated unemployment rate for
people aged 16 years and over in Scotland was 3.7% in September
to November 2025. The estimated UK unemployment rate was 5.1%
over the same period. Scottish Government analysis
of labour market trends is available online.
The Parent Club campaign will
encourage parents with money worries to reach out to advisers who
can help them to find work, childcare and manage household costs.
