Government says zero-hours contracts are a ‘positive’ for youngsters.

Figures included in statistics often cited by ministers

Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of using zero-hours contracts “to hide her failings on education” after it was revealed that the controversial working conditions are classed as a “positive destination” by the Scottish Government.

The First Minister has said that zerohours contracts “demean and exploit” workers, but an investigation by the Times Educational Supplement Scotland found they are still gathered in key statistics often cited by ministers.

Advocates of such employment arrangements say the lack of guaranteed hours offer employees flexibility, but opponents argue they constitute exploitation with workers not offered minimum hours.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “Labour will call time on exploitative zero-hour contracts, but it tells you all you need to know about the SNP that it thinks a contract like this is a ‘positive destination’ for our young people.

“The reality is that Nicola Sturgeon is quite happy to use zero hour contracts to hide her failings on education and skills.

The latest Scottish Government data shows 93.3% of teenagers were recorded as entering a positive destination on leaving school last year, including university, further education and employment in 2015-16, up from 90.1% in 2011-12. A little more than 22% were classed as employed.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of workers on zero-hours contracts reached 905,000 between October and December last year – an increase of more than 100,000 compared with the previous year.

A third of those on zero-hours contracts were aged 16 to 24.

Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liz Smith said: “It has been very clear indeed for some time that the term ‘positive destination’ does not always mean what it should.

“The statistics often include jobs which could not, in any way, be said to be long term or particularly fulfilling and that is a major challenge for the Scottish Government.

“We want all our youngsters to have good educational and employment opportunities that are meaningful and enriching.

“They must not be part of the ‘positive destination’ statistics if that is not what they are actually enjoying.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The school leaver destination statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics and provide important information about the outcomes for our young people after they leave school and how these change over time.

“However, it is important to note that the leaver destination statistics are not the only measure of the progress of our young people.

“The Scottish Government is committed to creating a culture of fair work throughout all workplaces in Scotland which discourages the use of exploitative zero-hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers little or no job security.

“Since 2012, the Opportunities for All programme has provided learning and training choices to thousands of 16-19-year-olds who are not in employment, education or training.

“Progress in this programme is tracked by the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland through an annual participation measure which provides more detailed tracking of those young people benefiting from Opportunities for All.”