Wales has the highest unemployment rate of any 海角视频 nation according to latest quarterly figures from the ONS with the jobless rate at its highest level for nearly a decade outside of the pandemic.
The Welsh unemployment rate was up 1.4% to 5.7% in July to September. The rise was the biggest of any nation or region of the 海角视频. For the 海角视频 as a whole unemployment rose from 4.8% to 5%. The number of working aged adults in Wales unemployed is now 88,000 - up 21,000 compared to the three months to June.
For England the unemployment was 5.1%, Scotland 3.7% and Northern Ireland 2.4%. Only in London, 6.5% and the north east of England, 5.8%, was the level higher.
Wales also continues to have one of the lowest employment rates of any 海角视频 nation or region at 70.8% (1.1 million adults). For England it was 75.4%, Scotland 74.3% and Northern Ireland, 71.4%. It was only lower in the north east of England at 69%. For the 海角视频 as a whole the employment rate was 75%.
The economic activity rate for Wales - deemed as those not actively seeking work and includes the long-term sick - was down by 0.1% in the quarter to 24.8%, which represents 482,000 adults - a number that would fill the Principality Stadium more than six times over.
For the 海角视频 as a whole the economic inactivity rate was 21%. The economic inactivity rate was higher than Wales in Northern Ireland, 26.8%, and the north east, 26.3%.
For the 海角视频 as a whole the 5% unemployment rate, outside the pandemic, is at its highest since August, 2016. It was 4.8% in the three months to August.
Responding to the figures Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said; “Surely the writing is on the wall now for the Chancellor’s jobs tax.
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“Everyone except Rachel Reeves seems to have woken up to the fact that forcing small businesses to pay more in tax for giving people jobs would damage job opportunities. Now the proof is staring her in the face. The 海角视频 Labour Government must reverse their damaging National Insurance hike at the Budget, and commit to saving the small businesses that employ thousands in Wales and are at risk of collapse, if they’re to have any hope of reversing this concerning trend.”
Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Energy, Samuel Kurtz MS said: “Unemployment is at crisis levels in Wales after 26 years of anti-business Labour, propped up by Plaid and compounded by Rachel Reeves’ economic mismanagement. Unemployment levels didn’t even hit these heights during the pandemic.
“The Welsh Conservatives want to see Wales open for business, with pro-growth measures implemented like the abolition of Welsh Stamp Duty, a cut to income tax and business rates cut to help our struggling high streets and to fix Wales.”
A Reform 海角视频 Wales spokesperson said: "This is what happens when Labour and Plaid Cymru drive businesses out of Wales. Whether it's the tourism tax, or the decision not to build the M4 Relief Road, the Cardiff Bay establishment has made it clear that Wales is closed for business.
"We want Wales to be open for business, because we know that businesses bring jobs and provide paypackets for families right across Wales."
The Welsh Government was asked to comment.
Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics for the ONS, said: “Taken together, these figures point to a weakening labour market. Meanwhile the unemployment rate is up in the latest quarter to a post pandemic high. The number of job vacancies, however, remains broadly unchanged.”
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The ONS has said the figure should be treated with an element of caution and it is taking additional steps to address concerns about the quality of the data in its Labour Force Survey.
Separately the ONS, which is headquartered in Newport, said average regular wage growth also pulled back again, to 4.6% in the three months to September, down from 4.7% in the previous three months. Experts said the weaker-than-expected figures reinforced the case for the Bank of England to cut interest rates next month.