Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic

The role was first titled Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, with the initial holder being Keith Brown, who was appointed in May 2016. At its inception, the Cabinet Secretary had responsibilities for the Scottish economy, infrastructure, trade and investment, business, industry, employment, trade unions and energy. The Cabinet Secretary was assisted by the Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy and the Minister for Employability and Training.

The post was abolished in June 2018, with the "economy" part of the brief moving to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work and the infrastructure responsibilities moving to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity.^[3]

In February 2020, a Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture was appointed, taking over many of the responsibilities of the former portfolio, which were thus again held separately from the Finance brief.^[4] The role was later once again remerged with the Finance brief to create the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, held by Kate Forbes.

Under First Minister Humza Yousaf, Neil Gray was appointed as Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Secretary, with the Finance brief again becoming a separate post. Following a reshuffle, Màiri McAllan held the portfolio of Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy.

In May 2024, John Swinney retitled the role to Economy and Gaelic, and appointed Kate Forbes concurrently with her role of Deputy First Minister of Scotland. McAllan retained the other part of her role as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy.^[2]

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic is responsible for:^[5]

• inter-governmental relations
• Responsibility for cross-government delivery & outcomes
• National Performance Framework
• Historical Abuse Inquiry
• Redress
• Covid Inquiries
• Sheku Bayoh public inquiry
• Languages, including Gaelic, Scots and BSL
• economic policy and prosperity
• green industrial strategy (jointly with Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy)
• support for business, industry and manufacturing
• long-term labour market strategy
• enterprise agencies
• Scottish National Investment Bank
• Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
• entrepreneurship
• engagement with UK government on shared prosperity fund, evelling up fund, ESIF

Infrastructure investment

• regional economic partnerships
• Clyde Mission
• city and regional growth deals
• government investments (Prestwick, Fergusons, BiFab)

The following public bodies report to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic:^[5]

• Scottish Enterprise
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• South of Scotland Enterprise
• Scottish National Investment Bank
• Glasgow Prestwick Airport
• Ferguson Marine
• BiFab

As is typical of Scottish government roles, the Economy portfolio has gone through many iterations since its inception. The current holder is Kate Forbes, who has held the role since May 2024.

Name		Portrait	Entered Office	Left Office	Party	First Minister
Role formed out of Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work
	Keith Brown		18 May 2016	26 June 2018	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Role merged with Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work
	Derek Mackay		26 June 2018	5 February 2020	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Role merged with Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture
	Fiona Hyslop		17 February 2020	19 May 2021	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy
	Kate Forbes		20 May 2021	28 March 2023	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
	Neil Gray		29 March 2023	8 February 2024	Scottish National Party	Humza Yousaf
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy
	Màiri McAllan		8 February 2024	8 May 2024	Scottish National Party	Humza Yousaf
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic
	Kate Forbes		9 May 2024	Incumbent	Scottish National Party	John Swinney

• The Scottish Cabinet