A STUDY has revealed that more young people are choosing to live and work in the Highlands following the investment of £135 million towards the Highland City Deal by the Scottish Government.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise conducted the survey which found that 55% of young people are committed to staying in the region, an increase of 12% since 2015. 69% feel that those who remain in the region are lucky to be able to work or study locally.

SNP MSP Gail Ross led a debate in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday which recognised efforts in the region to attracts and retain young people and the positive impact government funding has played in contributing to these findings.

“This is a welcome report that shows more and more young people are realising and taking advantage of the opportunities offered to them to enable them to live, study and work in the Highlands,” Ms Ross enthused.

"We have always had an issue with depopulation, especially with our young people and we will never completely halt this outward migration, neither should we seek to.

"Young people will always want to broaden their horizons, whether that’s in other parts of Scotland or other parts of the world,” she continued.

"What this study shows, is that we are empowering young people with more choice and the days of being forced away from your community because there are fewer prospects of studying and employment are becoming a thing of the past.”