People seeking work who are disabled or have long-term health conditions are to be offered help from a dedicated employability adviser.
The initiative will be in place by next summer and involve advisers working with employers to develop roles suited to an individual’s needs.
Included as part of last week’s Programme for Government, it is designed to support people into work, boosting Scotland’s workforce and helping to drive economic growth. It will also help to deliver the Scottish Government’s ambition of creating a fairer labour market and halving the disability employment gap by 2038.
The Scottish Government will partner with local authorities and others including health and voluntary organisations to implement the measures. They build on the existing No-one Left Behind approach which has supported 61,930 people since April 2019, 19% of whom reported having a disability.
Commenting, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don-Innes, said: “The SNP Scottish Government is committed to providing specialised employability support starting in the summer of 2025, ensuring more disabled people can secure meaningful and fulfilling employment.
“Addressing the discrimination and stigma faced by people with disabilities and long-term health conditions is essential for fostering a diverse workforce and building a stronger, more resilient economy.
“By helping those furthest from the job market find employment, we can tackle inequalities within the labour market and improve overall quality of life.”