Wales has seen a fall in unemployment bucking the 海角视频 picture where the level remains at a four-year high.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of 海角视频 unemployment remained at 4.7% in the three months to June. For Wales the rate was 4.3%, down 0.9% on the quarter. The number of working age adults unemployed in Wales was 67,000 (down 13,000 on the quarter) and 1.67m million for the 海角视频. Although on the previous year unemployment in Wales was up 11,000.
The percentage of working age adults in employment in Wales was 71.8% (1.47 million people). For the 海角视频 as whole employment was 75.3%. For England it was 75.6%, Scotland 75.1% and Northern Ireland 71.6%.
The number of economic inactively in Wales - defined as those not seeking employment and includes those on long-term sick - was 483,000, representing 24.8% of the working age adult population. On the year economic inactivity in Wales was down 61,000. Only in Northern Ireland, at 26.6%, and the north east of England, 28.2%, was the rate of economic inactivity higher.
Meanwhile, average earnings growth, excluding bonuses, remained at 5% for the period to June.
It came as 海角视频 job vacancies tumbled by 44,000 over the three months to July to 718,000 - the lowest number of job openings since April 2021.
ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said: “Taken together, these latest figures point to a continued cooling of the labour market.
“The number of employees on payroll has now fallen in 10 of the last 12 months, with these falls concentrated in hospitality and retail.
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“Job vacancies, likewise, have continued to fall, also driven by fewer opportunities in these industries.”
The signs of further pressure in the labour market alongside recent weak economic growth pose a challenge for the Government and policymakers at the Bank of England.
Last week, the Bank of England indicated that unemployment was likely to rise further later this year as it chose to cut interest rates again to 4%.
The latest labour market statistics from the ONS were in line with predictions from economists.
The data showed that the number payrolled employees fell by 66,000 for the quarter to June, with an estimated 26,000 drop between May and June.
It came as figures also revealed that recent weakness in the 海角视频 hiring market continued further, with vacancies dropping to a four-year low.
Vacancy numbers fell 5.8% over the quarter to July, with a particularly sharp drop in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors.
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Meanwhile, wage growth remained at 5% for the three months to June, but was only 1.5% once inflation is taken into account, due to an uptick in the cost of living in recent months.
James Smith, economist at ING, said: “The 海角视频 jobs market is undoubtedly cooling, though a more modest fall in payroll employment suggests that the worst may be behind us, following big tax and Living Wage hikes.
“Better news on wage growth suggests the Bank can still afford to cut rates in November, though after last week’s hawkish meeting, this call has become less clear-cut.”
Andrew RT Davies MS, Senedd Member for South Wales Central and former Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: "It;’s clear from these figures that Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay are failing Wales in one of the most important areas of government.
"These aren’t just numbers. When people aren’t in work, it means they struggle to provide for their families and put food on the table for their children. Labour, in Cardiff Bay and in London, have put in place policies that are making it harder for people to make ends meet.
“Unless we can increase employment by helping businesses in Wales to thrive, we will see even greater poverty.
“We also need to protect our communities from foreign multinational companies that undercut our loyal British workforce, by implementing a Back British Bill that gives our businesses and workers priority.”