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Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray says the Wood Report posited a profound change and he says the danger is that it is done half heartedly.

Mr Gray says a consistent and concerted effort is required to bring the Wood Report recommendations.

He says he welcomes the seven year strategy and yearly reporting.

Tory MSP Liz Smith says there must be as much emphasis on the need to acquire new knowledge as well as boost skills in the curriculum for excellence.

There is a need to reflect more on the recommendations of Sir Ian Wood on vocational training, she says, adding that Scotland has not taken advantage of the incentives that could stem from alternative routes of learning.

Ms Smith points to Newlands Junior College, which supports pupils aged 14-16 who have been disengaged from education, as a positive example of diverse learning.

She welcomes the recent decision by the Scottish government to provide more part-time college places, stating it allows college to be more responsive to the needs of the local economies.

The Scottish government published its Developing the Young Workforce strategy in 2014 with the target of reducing the level of youth unemployment by 40% by 2021.

It was based on the recommendations made by the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce, chaired by Sir Ian Wood.

Recommendations inlcuded:

• strengthening the links between schools, colleges and employers
• continuing to develop schemes to strengthen learning in the workplace
• supporting vulnerable youngsters on the path to finding a job

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Conservative MSP Liz Smith says she warmly welcomes what the Scottish government has said in its motion.

Ms Smith says employers want a strength in numeracy and literacy first and foremost.

She says some employers say they have to spend money topping up these skills.

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Jamie Hepburn commits to increasing contributions to dental and management apprenticeships.

Ensuring equality of access to apprenticeships is key, the ministers states, and he highlights the recently-published updates equality impact assessment for the strategy.

Long-term change will only come from embedding the strategy in the school curriculum, he says, and points to its alignment with Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC).

Mr Hepburn says the government will continue to promote the strategy to all employers.

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Mr Hepburn says the target for modern apprenticeshipsof 26,000 has been exceeded.

The employment and training minister says there has been progress but more must be made.

He announces 28,000 apprenticeship starts next year.

The minister says new graduate level opportunites will be introduced and there will be enhancments to modern apprenticeships.

He says the government has set a target of halving the disability employment gap.

The rural supplement will be extended across all rural communities.

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The Scottish government committed to annual reporting on progress of the Developing the

Young Workforce Programme.

According to the government this third annual report covers academic year 2016/17, external and highlights early progress made in the first part of academic year 2017/18.

Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), external is Scotland’s youth employment strategy and through DYW, we aim to reduce youth unemployment levels by 40% by 2021.

The strategy aims to create an excellent, work relevant education offer to young people in Scotland, giving them the skills for the current and anticipated jobs market.

Employment Minister Jamie Hepburn notes that 2018 marks the Year of Young People, as well as the halfway point for the Developing the Young Workforce strategy.

The target to reduce youth employment by 40% from 2014 levels by 2021 has been met four years early, he says.

We are among the best performers in the EU for youth employment, Mr Hepburn adds.

The minister says employers must be at the heart of the strategy and he highlights the expansion of apprenticeships.

Over 2,500 foundation apprenticeships will be started in schools this year, he says.

Official figures released in December indicated Scotland's unemployment rate increased by 0.3% to 4.1%, which was below the UK rate of 4.3%.

Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn said: "While these latest figures show that employment is up by 1.7 percentage points over the year, it is disappointing to see a slight fall in employment and a slight rise in unemployment over the last quarter.

"However, our overall unemployment rate remains lower than the UK's, and it is also encouraging to see youth unemployment rates continuing to outperform the rest of the UK."

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Employability and Training Minister Jamie Hepburn gets the debate underway.

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After lunch MSPs will return to the chamber to discuss the third annual report on developing the young workforce.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell points the engagement with carers on bringing forward an improving Scottish government policy.

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 is highlighted and she says Carer Positive's work is complimented by the legislation.

Carers struggle to look after their own health and well-being when juggling both caring responsibilities and employment, she notes.

The minister highlights that Carers' Allowance will be increased to match Jobseekers Allowance in summer to better support unpaid carers.

While commending those organisations who are already accredited as carer positive, she agrees there is much more which can be done.

Government officials are engaging with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce to increase the number of private sector employers taking part in the initiative, she says.

Ms Campbell says there is a strong business case for doing so, including retaining skills.

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• There are around 760,000 unpaid carers in Scotland, external, with this figure forecast to increase significantly as the population ages.
• Around 270,000 people are estimated to be juggling work with caring responsibilities – as many as 1 in 8 of the workforce
• As people work longer, more and more of the workforce are taking on the dual roles of working and caring
• Without the right support in the workplace, a significant number of carers leave paid employment – this has implications for the individuals, their families and employers
• With the right support, employers retain skilled and valuable staff, and all employees benefit from a healthier and more productive working environment

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Tory MSP Jeremey Balfour says: "Unpaid carers are unsung heroes."

Mr Balfour says: "If it wasn't for a carer today I wouldn't be standing here because I need help getting dressed, every morning."

"Unpaid, done voluntarily."

He says carers say it can be rewarding to help someone else but it can often be difficult and upsetting, leading to stress, worry, isolation, depression and anger and guilt.

Mr Balfour says: "Carer Positive is a win, win, win."