A new fund to help "break down the attitude barriers" that means some jobs are perceived as being for men only has been announced by the First Minister.
Alex Salmond revealed £250,000 was being invested in the initiative, which aims to encourage schoolgirls to widen their career options.
The First Minister said that while 43% of those going into modern apprenticeships in Scotland are now women, only 3% of those starting engineering apprenticeships are female. Meanwhile, 97% of new apprentices in the childcare and early education sector are women.
The £250,000 funding will go to Careerwise Scotland to help encourage more girls to consider professions in areas such as science and engineering.
The First Minister said: "It is vitally important that, from an early age, girls make the right subject choices at school to allow them to progress through education and training toward the widest range of job opportunities possible.
"That's one reason why we are launching Careerwise Scotland. Working with industry and schools, we want schoolgirls to meet female engineers, manufacturers and scientists, and know that those are options open just as much to them as to their male classmates."
Speaking at Scotland's first summit on women's employment, Mr Salmond argued many of the "great jobs" of the future would be in areas such as life sciences and renewable energy.
He stated: "The impression that some careers are almost reserved professions for men has to be broken down, and if you are going to break it down you have got to break it down early, and that means in the schools. Many of the great jobs of the future are going to be in areas of engineering, life sciences, the energy sector, and young women's skills are going to be needed."
Mr Salmond highlighted the "record number" of females going into modern apprenticeships, saying: "Last year more than 10,000 took an apprenticeship, which is five times the figure for 2008."
Mr Salmond went on: "This new initiative will intensify work to ensure that schoolgirls are aware of the opportunities available in science, technology, engineering, maths, before they start making the subject choices in second year and beyond which will obviously influence their later career options."
