UK Government hails record employment levels in Wales
EMPLOYMENT levels in Wales have reached record levels while unemployment continues to fall, accordng to latest figures from the Newport-based Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In Wales in the three months to June the unemployment rate was down to 4.3%, a fall of 1,000 on the quarter.
The employment rate in Wales was up 13,000 on the quarter and 31,000 on the year. The employment rate in Wales is now at a record high of 74.2%, beating the previous low of 74%.
For the UK as a whole, the unemployment rate was down to 4%, the lowest since 1975, while the employment rate also up to 75.6%
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “These impressive figures demonstrate the UK Government’s determination to foster sustainable job creation across Wales, which continues to grow each year.
“It is clear that the unwavering commitment of the UK Government to promote export opportunities for Welsh businesses and encourage inward investment from far and wide has created an economic environment which supports greater job creation and prosperity across Wales.
“While it is great to see that UK unemployment levels are at a record low, my efforts will continue in demonstrating the strength of the Welsh economy worldwide and encouraging further investment from overseas.
“This will allow us to keep punching above our weight amongst the other UK nations and beyond,” added Mr Cairns.
Commenting on the UK picuure senior ONS statistician Matt Hughes said: “The number of people in work has continued to edge ahead, though the employment rate was unchanged on the quarter.
“However, the number of vacancies is a new record high, while the unemployment rate is now at its lowest since the winter of 1974-75.”
“For the first time since we started tracking ‘zero-hours’ contracts, we’ve seen a substantial fall in the number of people on one in their main job.
“The growth in employment is still being driven by UK nationals, with a noticeable drop over the past year in the number of workers from the so-called ‘A8’ eastern European countries in particular.”
Minister of State for Employment Alok Sharma said: “With the unemployment rate at a 43-year low, it is also very good that we are seeing wages continuing to outpace inflation for the fifth month in a row.
“We’ve backed businesses to create jobs and reformed welfare to make work pay, and thanks to the Government’s policies and employers’ confidence in the British economy we have seen over 3.3 million more people employed in our country since 2010.
“Over 75% of these people are employed in permanent jobs and full-time jobs and over 70% in higher-level occupations which pay higher wages.”