labour market figures

Commenting on the latest labour market figures published today (Wednesday) by the Office for National Statistics, Wales TUC Policy Officer Alex Bevan said:

“These are encouraging figures for thousands of people across Wales who are desperate for work. It is good that jobless levels continue to fall across the UK, and crucially that the unemployment rate is now lower in Wales.

“We should, however, be in no doubt that the headline figure masks what is still a desperately tough labour market for many in Wales. Around 68,000 people are in part time work because they cannot find a full time job and the recent news that two minimum wage jobs at one ice cream parlour in Swansea attracted over 300 applicants indicates just how hard it is to find work.

“A mix of active jobs policies in Wales such as Jobs Growth Wales is having a positive impact but overall there is a long way to go before we reach pre-recession levels of pay and employment.”