WIREDGOV

The latest set of jobs figures show Wales is consolidating its economic gains with the employment level remaining at a record high.

Headline Labour Market statistics in Wales:

The employment level in Wales is up 19,000 over the quarter to 1.459 million and the rate is up 0.9 percentage points to 73.1 per cent. Over the year, the level increased by 41,000 and the rate was up 2.2 percentage points. The employment level is at a record high.

The unemployment level is up 3,000 over the quarter to 67,000 and the rate is up by 0.1 percentage points to 4.4 per cent. Over the year, the level decreased by 23,000 and the rate was down 1.6 percentage points. The rate in Wales is now 0.4 percentage points lower than the unemployment rate for the UK as a whole, which is 4.8 per cent

The claimant count was unchanged between September and October and fell 1,900 (4.3 per cent) over the year. The rate stands at 2.9 per cent. For the UK, the claimant count increased by 9800 (1.2 per cent) over the month but fell 9,900 (1.2 percentage points) over the year and now stands at 803,300. The UK rate is 2.3 per cent

Economic inactivity is down 20,000 over the quarter to 446,000 and the rate is down by 1.0 percentage points to 23.4. Over the year, the level decreased by 19,000 and the rate was down 1.0 percentage points.

Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales, said:

“This set of figures - the first full quarter since the EU referendum - show we are consolidating our economic gains of recent months in Wales with the employment level remaining at a record high again.

“A strengthening economy combined with the results of welfare reforms have translated into one of the brightest jobs market pictures we have seen for some time. We are seeing the strongest progress in areas like Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent; those parts of Wales which have traditionally suffered deep-rooted unemployment.

“We are closing the gap in the jobs market with the rest of the UK and building a Welsh economy that works for everyone.”