Overview
Our infographic dashboards offer a snapshot of the key data we hold on different topics. This dashboard focuses on key subject uptake in Scotland.
There are many different routes into engineering and technology roles, but there are some key STEM subjects that set young people up well for following this career path. Girls are underrepresented in all key subjects and pathways into engineering and tech.
This dashboard covers the uptake of key STEM subjects across National 5s and Highers for the 2025 exams in Scotland. It also looks at key engineering and technology numbers across apprenticeships and includes the gender breakdown across these routes. It also looks at the key findings around the engineering and technology workforce in Scotland.
Key subject uptake – Scotland infographic dashboard
Published
October 2025
Who this is for
- Careers leads
- Researchers
- STEM outreach organisations
- Teachers
Key findings
- Maths is the most popular National 5 and Higher subject
- Application of maths, introduced in 2017, is increasingly popular at both levels
- Girls continue to be underrepresented in most key subjects – most notably physics and computing
- Scotland makes up 8% of the UK’s engineering and tech workforce
- Jobs in environment, energy and earth are particularly prevalent in Scotland, and even more so in North Eastern Scotland
