More than a fifth of working-age Scots are now outside the labour market, mirroring a UK-wide pattern. Linked with long-term health conditions, this is a huge human and economic tragedy that desperately needs fresh thinking.

Unfortunately, views on economic inactivity are now so polarised that there seems no safe space for constructive debate. But, while Scotland may lack some of the levers to address the problem, our European neighbours can offer insights.

One-third of these individuals cite poor health as the primary barrier to employment, but that statistic sheds little light on the problem. Instead the challenge is a benefits system and employer practices that view work and inactivity in a binary way.

This represents a systemic failure that demands a change in perspective. Many do want to enter work, and indeed could if they did not face so many hurdles.

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Scotland has much to gain from encouraging employment practices that ease the transition back into work and allow more flexibility for employees who are struggling. There are effective European models of support.

What makes this crisis particularly acute is its disproportionate impact on our younger population. The number of people under 25 with work-limiting health conditions has doubled in the past decade, creating a generation at risk of permanent exclusion from economic participation.

Mental health conditions have emerged as the dominant driver of this trend, particularly among younger Scots. While physical ailments can lead to workplace adjustments or reduced hours, mental health challenges more frequently result in complete withdrawal from the labour market. People with anxiety or depression are more likely to become economically inactive than those with physical conditions, and among young adults with depression,........

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