Scotland has lost nearly 20,000 steel jobs since 1981 – even before the collapse of British Steel.
The industry employed 19,000 workers in the country 38 years ago.
But the numbers had dropped to just 1810 by 2017, according to figures released by the GMB union.
This means that since 1981 the industry here has lost 90 per cent of its jobs.
The only two major steelworks still remaining in Scotland are Dalzell in Motherwell and Clydebridge in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire.
They were mothballed by owners Tata Steel in 2015 but later reoponed by Liberty House in a deal brokered by the Scottish Government.
Figures were taken from the ONS business register and employment survey and its predecessor.
The union says the UK has lost more than 150,000 steel jobs – 80 per cent of the former workforce – over four decades. In 1981, steel employed 186,000 people – down to 32,000 in 2017.
The union released the figures after British Steel collapsed putting a further 5000 jobs at risk. It was placed in compulsory liquidation on Wednesday.
The Government’s official receiver has taken control of the firm and as the hunt for a buyer goes on, it is continuing to trade.
Ross Murdoch, GMB national officer, said: “Consecutive UK governments have failed to protect our proud steel heritage, and Theresa May is overseeing its demise.”
Last week, Business Secretary Greg Clark said the Government could only act within the law and this required any financial support to be made on a commercial basis.
