PLAN TO FIND 3,000 JOBS LOST TO COVID
A PLAN to replace an estimated 3,000 jobs lost during the Covid crisis has been approved by Carmarthenshire Council leaders.
The economic recovery plan also aims to safeguard or replace up to 10,000 jobs which may be at risk when the UK Government furlough scheme ends in September, and support 1,400 business which may be at risk of insolvency.
Work on the economic recovery plan has involved the private sector as well as the council and got under way last spring.
The final version of the plan presented to executive board members on June 21 said the local economy was unlikely to recover to pre-pandemic levels for at least three years.
It added that there was “a strong possibility” that employment would not recover within three years.
The largest declines have been in hospitality, retail, motor trades and manufacturing. A few sectors have, however, generated additional jobs.
Council leader Emlyn Dole said: “It’s essential that our response as an authority goes alongside the needs of businesses and communities across Carmarthenshire.”
The plan sets out immediate actions, such as identifying individuals and micro-businesses which have fallen through the cracks of Government grants, and assessing potential business support for them. Another is to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and provide incentives for startups. A “speculative” programme of creating new employment space in rural areas is also proposed, along with a focus on delivering road, rail and cycling projects.
Other longer-term objectives include a roll-out of full fibre digital connectivity and the construction of low carbon homes.
The council allocated £4.2 million in this year’s budget to boost the Covid-hit economy, and it will try to secure match funding where possible to deliver the 30-odd actions in the report. The report’s authors also pointed out that Carmarthenshire has longer-term challenges, including low wages and productivity levels, too few business scaling up, and a shortage of skills.