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Convener, do I have time to ask another question?

It is for Liz Cameron. The issue is not just a lack of people or bodies on the ground; if people are retiring earlier, that is draining our resources and experience. Would you agree that Covid has exacerbated that issue and that we need to tackle it immediately?

I am glad that you have mentioned the older market. Covid has accelerated the gap between life expectancy and the age at which people leave the workforce. That gap seems to be growing.

Marek Zemanik, are we giving people who are, or are potentially, leaving the workplace early the encouragement, experience and opportunity to develop and remain in the workforce in a manner that suits them?

Have I got time for a very short question, convener?

I know that Bee Boileau wants to comment on that, but I will add another layer. Are we marketing potential careers to our young people properly and giving them the vision of where they should be or could go? You cannot do it if you cannot see it, for want of a better phrase. What are your thoughts on that?

You know me, convener. Let me have a wee look at my papers.

Good morning. I will continue on that theme, which I thank Liz Cameron for bringing up.

We have a huge opportunity with the green economy, but we are not—as we should be doing—weaving the green economy into our education system nearly fast enough. Just last week, I was at the Kilmarnock campus of Ayrshire College, which has apprenticeship places available. I was also at some engineering works that are short of apprentices. There are higher levels of unemployment in my region.

In my view, we have all the bits and bobs there, but we are not connecting up all the elements. We have a huge opportunity with the green economy. However, to respond to Liz Cameron’s point, I do not think that we are doing that well enough. Would you agree?

One question has occurred to me—it is almost a regional question. There is a consistent draining of the workforce from rural to urban areas. What impact has Covid had on that, and what do we need to do to try to stem the flow? That question is for Liz Cameron.

We are well aware that Covid has caused significant impact on and change to working practices, including in the form of the hybrid system. I will pose a general question to everybody: are businesses managing to change at the pace that is being demanded by the workforce? Chris Brodie, do you want to start?

Sure.