Scottish Firms Face Structural Barriers to Early-Career Recruitment

Scottish businesses report a high intent to hire early-career talent, with 66% of firms having recruited younger staff in the past year. Among those that did not hire, 75% indicated a willingness to do so if structural barriers were removed, representing the highest such sentiment in the United Kingdom.

Employers identify a lack of access to qualified candidates and insufficient collaboration with education providers as primary obstacles to workforce expansion. Nearly 40% of firms cite a requirement for greater certainty regarding government funding to support recruitment and training initiatives.

Financial constraints remain a secondary concern, with 17% of businesses reporting that upfront recruitment and training costs limit their ability to hire. To mitigate current skills gaps, firms are increasingly prioritizing internal upskilling and training programs for existing staff.