Poor reading, writing and maths teaching in primary schools is preventing women from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and maths, according to Labour.
The overwhelming majority of civil engineers are men while just one in ten senior managers in engineering and technology professions are women, leader Kezia Dugdale has complained.
She said schools must improve literacy and numeracy teaching to enable women to succeed in the so-called Stem subjects.
Scotland will need nearly 150,000 new engineers by 2022 and filling these jobs will generate £1.7 billion for the Scottish economy, according to Engineering UK.
Speaking after a visit to defence technology firm Selex ES in Edinburgh, Ms Dugdale said: “Scotland has one of the proudest histories of scientific innovation and discovery in the world, and that is where our best future lies too.
“We must protect our research, invest in our scientists and engineers of the future, and support hi-tech manufacturing.
“We must celebrate Scottish science but the cutting-edge 21st-century science we want for Scotland and our economy will not be created by men alone.
“Closing the door on talented women is bad for our economy and our future.
“Experts have said that if Scotland invests in engineers we could reap a £1.7 billion windfall. To do this, we need nearly 150,000 new engineers over the next few years.
“Scotland can be a leading nation in the world of science again, but not if we continue to exclude half the population from that effort.
“That’s why it’s so important we encourage more women into science and engineering.
“Today, only 3% of civil engineers in Scotland are women, and just 10% are in senior management jobs in the science and technology industry. We can, and must, do better than that.
“Investing in these jobs doesn’t start with modern apprenticeships; it begins in our primary schools with the basics like literacy and numeracy.
“That’s why Scottish Labour continues to campaign and highlight the attainment gap in our schools. It’s holding us back today and it will hold back our country tomorrow.
“We can build a fairer nation and a stronger Scotland by investing in our young people to allow them to access and excel in the jobs of future.”