The number of young people in work, education or training has hit a record high, new figures show.

The proportion of 16- to 19-year-olds in Scotland in education, training or employment has increased to a record 91.8 per cent, according to new government statistics published today, up from 91.1 per cent last year, and 87.6 per cent in 2015 when the figures first started being recorded.

The number of unemployed young people meanwhile fell to 3.4 per cent, down from 3.7 per cent in 2017 and 6.5 per cent in 2015.

The figures - compiled so the Scottish government can assess the impact of its promise of a place in learning or training for all 16- to 19-year-olds - also showed that 87.1 per cent of 16- to 19-year-olds from minority ethnic groups are participating in education, 15.8 percentage points higher than the national average of 71.3 per cent.

The “participation gap” between those living in the 20 per cent most-deprived areas and those in the 20 per cent least-deprived areas has continued to narrow, from 11.5 percentage points in 2017 to 10.8 percentage points in 2018.

However, the gap remains stark, with 96.5 per cent of 16-19 year-olds from the least-deprived areas in education, work or training, compared with 85.7 per cent of those living in the most-deprived areas.

Educationalists have also expressed concern that even teenagers in “dead-end jobs” and on zero-hours contracts are counted as being employed.

In 2017, Tes Scotland revealed that - although first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said zero-hours contracts “demean and exploit” - these count towards the participation statistics for teenagers which include “all types of employment”.

Jamie Hepburn, minister for business, fair work and skills, said that the figures showed the government’s efforts to encourage and support young people to stay in learning, training and work were working for the vast majority across Scotland.

He was particularly pleased to see the participation gap between those living in the most- and least-deprived areas continuing to narrow, and a record increase in the number of young people from minority ethnic backgrounds in education.

Mr Hepburn added: “The Scottish government remains committed to delivering positive outcomes for all our young people.”

The bulk of 16- to 19-year-olds in a positive destination are in education (71.3 per cent); followed by work (18.7 per cent) and then training (1.9 per cent).