The Prince's Trust has revealed that wellbeing among young people is at its lowest in nine years

Young Scots are more worried about job prospects than ever, research has shown.

The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index has revealed that young people’s wellbeing is at the lowest since the study was launched nine years ago.

One in three youngsters in Scotland don’t feel in control of their lives and more than half think a lack of self-confidence holds them back.

The index is a national survey that gauges young people's happiness and confidence across a range of areas from working life to physical and mental health.

Based on a survey of 2,194 young people aged 16 to 25, the study shows almost a third (30%) of young people in Scotland think getting relevant work experience is one of the biggest challenges in pursuing a career.

Reece Hayes, a young ambassador for the Prince's Trust Scotland, said: "I felt like a failure applying for jobs, it was demoralising. Even when you secure work, it's often temporary, low paid, and not necessarily in the sector you want to build a career in."

"The Prince's Trust Youth Index report tells us what young people already know - our generation face many challenges, and to succeed, we need people to believe in us, and give us a chance.

“As 2018 is Year of Young People in Scotland, this research should be a wake-up call to government and employers to invest in young people's confidence and skills to help us build a future where we can live, learn, and earn."

In response to the issues raised in the report, the Prince's Trust is refining its eligibility criteria to reflect the evolving needs of the young people it supports, for example those who are underemployed.

Provision is available online for young people who are working or studying up to 35 hours per week and want to improve their employability skills or explore the idea of starting their own business.