Scottish Apprenticeships – stats and facts

Check out these statistics and facts to discover how apprenticeships are making a difference for people, employers and the wider economy.

Apprenticeship stats and facts

Apprenticeships are working for Scotland. They help the nation:

create careers
build businesses
grow the workforce
get real returns for the economy

You can download a colourful infographic of the Scottish Apprenticeship statistics and facts on this page, for your reference:

Infographic showing lots of statistics and facts about Scottish Apprenticeships. These stats include:
Modern Apprenticeship completers earn up to 52% more than non-completers.
In 2024/2025, there were 25,507 MA starts, 39,043 in training and 80% completion rate. Back in 2008/2009, there were 10,597 MA starts, 21,614 in training and 67% completion rate.
64% of MAs are employed in STEM-related roles.
Employers invest around £10 for every £1 of public funding.
MA starts with a disability rose from 14.1% of the total in 2018/2019 to 16.1% in 2024/2025.
54% of Modern Apprentices say they have better long-term prospects.

A green graphic with 4 statistics on it. These are: Around 12,000 apprentice employers in Scotland, over 90% of apprentice employers are small to medium enterprises, 100% of apprenticeships are designed in partnership with employers and 90% of employers said apprenticeships significantly improved job performance.

Investment

More than £100 million of Scottish Government funding to support up to 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeships in 2025/26.
Nearly 40,000 apprentices currently in training, compared to around 26,600 in 2008.

Return on Investment

For every £1 of public investment in apprenticeships, the exchequer gets £4 to £5 in return.
This £450 million in tax revenue helps to fuel £1 billion of employer investment in skills.

Economic growth and employer needs

100% of Modern Apprenticeships are designed in partnership with employers.
76% of Modern Apprenticeship starts are in key growth sectors.
64% of Modern Apprentices are employed in STEM-related roles.

Financial premium

Learners who complete their Modern Apprenticeship earn up to 52% more than people who do not complete.
Those who complete an apprenticeship at SCQF Level 6 or 7 earn net benefits of £65,000 to £84,000 more over their lifetime earnings, compared with people who do not complete their apprenticeship.

Diverse workforce

80.5% of apprentice starts from areas of social deprivation are learning at SCQF Level 6 and above.
In the last five years, the share of people who declared to be from a minority ethnic group starting an apprenticeship has increased from 2.3% to 5.7%.
In the last five years, the share of people who declared to be care experienced starting an apprenticeship rose from 1.5% to 2.6%.

High quality

Scotland has an 80% Modern Apprenticeship achievement rate.
90% of employers said apprenticeships significantly improved job performance.
Three months after completion, nine out of 10 individuals are still working for the employer they started their apprenticeship with.

Apprentice employers

Employers invest around £10 for every publicly funded £1 in apprenticeships.
92% of apprentice employers are SMEs.