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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Wales lags behind rest of the UK | Wales lags behind rest of the UK |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Wales' working population is lagging further behind the rest of the UK, according to official figures. | Wales' working population is lagging further behind the rest of the UK, according to official figures. |
| One in four of working age in Wales are defined as neither employed nor seeking work, more than in Scotland and England but lower than Northern Ireland. | One in four of working age in Wales are defined as neither employed nor seeking work, more than in Scotland and England but lower than Northern Ireland. |
| The Welsh employment level has also fallen by 1.1% to 71.1% in a year, when the UK average has risen 0.3% to 74%. | The Welsh employment level has also fallen by 1.1% to 71.1% in a year, when the UK average has risen 0.3% to 74%. |
| But the number of people registered as unemployed in Wales is down to 4.9%, 0.3% below the UK average. | But the number of people registered as unemployed in Wales is down to 4.9%, 0.3% below the UK average. |
| The overall gloomy economic picture of Wales is painted by the latest Labour market statistics compiled by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). | The overall gloomy economic picture of Wales is painted by the latest Labour market statistics compiled by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). |
| Economic inactivity levels are regarded by some analysts as a key indicator of the overall health of an economy. | Economic inactivity levels are regarded by some analysts as a key indicator of the overall health of an economy. |
| In Wales 448,000 people, 25.1% of the potential working population, are recorded as economically inactive, near the bottom of the league table. | In Wales 448,000 people, 25.1% of the potential working population, are recorded as economically inactive, near the bottom of the league table. |
| The UK average is 21%. | The UK average is 21%. |
| Despite a 0.2% fall in the number of economically inactive across the UK during November, December and January, Wales has seen a rise of 0.8%. | Despite a 0.2% fall in the number of economically inactive across the UK during November, December and January, Wales has seen a rise of 0.8%. |
| Grim snapshot | Grim snapshot |
| The employment figures also appear to present a grim snapshot of the Welsh economy. | The employment figures also appear to present a grim snapshot of the Welsh economy. |
| Despite an increase of 0.3% in employment rates across the UK to 74.8%, the position in Wales has deteriorated, with a fall of 1.1% taking the rate down to 71.1%. | Despite an increase of 0.3% in employment rates across the UK to 74.8%, the position in Wales has deteriorated, with a fall of 1.1% taking the rate down to 71.1%. |
| This represents a fall in employment in Wales of 0.6% for the quarter, and 1.1% for the previous year. | This represents a fall in employment in Wales of 0.6% for the quarter, and 1.1% for the previous year. |
| The job statistics for the UK as a whole are much more positive than in Wales - with a UK increase of 0.3% for the quarter, and 0.4% for the year. | The job statistics for the UK as a whole are much more positive than in Wales - with a UK increase of 0.3% for the quarter, and 0.4% for the year. |
| There is better news for Wales in the unemployed in Wales figures, however, which are more consistent with those of the UK as a whole. | There is better news for Wales in the unemployed in Wales figures, however, which are more consistent with those of the UK as a whole. |
| 4.9% are registered unemployed in Wales, compared to 5.2% for the UK. | 4.9% are registered unemployed in Wales, compared to 5.2% for the UK. |
| This means around 3,000 people in Wales came off the unemployment register - bringing the total down to 69,000. | This means around 3,000 people in Wales came off the unemployment register - bringing the total down to 69,000. |
| Across the UK as a whole, there has been a reduction of 0.1% compared to the previous quarter, and a fall of 0.3% over the last year. | Across the UK as a whole, there has been a reduction of 0.1% compared to the previous quarter, and a fall of 0.3% over the last year. |
| 'Kick-start' | 'Kick-start' |
| The Welsh Conservatives said the data was "further worrying and real evidence of the failure of Labour's economic policies over recent years". | The Welsh Conservatives said the data was "further worrying and real evidence of the failure of Labour's economic policies over recent years". |
| Party enterprise spokesman David Melding said: "We need radical solutions to kick-start the Welsh economy, to get more people into work, to develop skills, and to encourage business growth. | Party enterprise spokesman David Melding said: "We need radical solutions to kick-start the Welsh economy, to get more people into work, to develop skills, and to encourage business growth. |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat economic spokesperson Kirsty Williams described the Labour market figures as "a gloomy illustration of the weakening Welsh economy". | |
| "The Plaid-Labour (Welsh assembly) government must commit to increasing the skills of the workforce and ensuring that Wales is a place to do business - they must do this now to get the Welsh economy back on its feet," she said. | |
| The Welsh Assembly Government has yet to respond to the figures. | The Welsh Assembly Government has yet to respond to the figures. |