As part of its recovery from the pandemic, Wales needs more affordable housing and access to better-paying jobs when it comes to levelling up, according to new research from PwC.
PwC鈥檚 latest Future of Government research, Rethinking Levelling-Up, reveals how the pandemic and its recovery is being viewed by people across the 海角视频.
Of those in Wales, 66% want what respondents across the devolved nations and the English regions most want too, pointing to better quality and more affordable housing as their top priority for levelling up. And 55% want help for people to access better paying jobs - a strength of feeling on this issue unmatched across the 海角视频.
Delivering homes and jobs is seen as the responsibility not of the Senedd or Westminster, but of local government and business, respectively.
John-Paul Barker, PwC鈥檚 Regional Market Leader for the West & Wales, said: 鈥淭hese findings underline how the pandemic has brought to the fore inequalities across the 海角视频, and the depth of feeling from people who have suffered the most from its economic effects.
鈥淭he people of Wales are clear on where their priorities lie for improving the situation as part of recovery and the Government鈥檚 levelling-up: in the provision of quality, affordable housing and jobs that pay well. They are also clear that it鈥檚 local government and business that should deliver these two priorities.
鈥淚t underlines the need for business, government at all levels and academia to find ways to cooperate more effectively in areas to solve important problems.鈥
With housing and jobs the two top priorities for Wales, there was also strong support for other ideas to support levelling up inequalities. While the pandemic has accelerated the move to online shopping, it has not diminished the importance of the high street and town centres: 48% of people in Wales would like to see investment here as a priority - support for this was higher than anywhere else in the 海角视频.
The report also identified investment in public services (43%) and in skills (41%), as well as in erecting a better safety net for those most in need, although at 32% this was the lowest score for this priority for any 海角视频 region. But 65% would still recommend Wales as a place to live - a pride of place which ranks fourth among all 海角视频 regions.
Mr Barker added: 鈥淒espite the economic hit taken by the coronavirus, Wales remains a great place to live and work, and it鈥檚 heartening to see that people鈥檚 pride of place is still strong.
鈥淭his is shown by the desire to keep the high street a vibrant place to visit. And with many companies now planning remote working into their future plans, there鈥檚 a window of opportunity for Wales to attract people seeking to relocate. With remote working expected to continue once the pandemic ends, this provides the perfect climate for jobs to be created here as well as a chance for Wales to attract some of those seeking to move. This is borne out by our research which shows that London鈥檚 population is set to decline by up to 300,000 this year alone.
鈥淎s part of this regional rebalancing, people will also be attracted to Wales by highly skilled jobs. Alongside advanced manufacturing, Wales is already building a name for itself as an important cyber security hub. Developing cyber excellence means we develop the Welsh brand as being a secure nation to do business with, which helps attract further investment from other sectors - reasons for us committing to growing our footprint in Cardiff. Providing skills - particularly digital skills - and technology infrastructure to help people prepare for the future world of work will be key to giving people in Wales a chance to be part of the inclusive, sustainable growth the country needs.鈥
Sign up to the BusinessLive Wales newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn
As well as an in-depth early morning newsletter, we will be sending out regular breaking news email alerts. To sign up to this service
And, follow us on to catch the latest stories and to network with the Welsh business community.
The report found that regional divisions across the 海角视频 have grown during the pandemic. More people living in Wales say the pandemic has brought their community closer together than other parts of the 海角视频 (42% compared to England 39% and Scotland 38%), although that does not apply more widely where 49% in Wales say the pandemic has made society feel more divided.
Only 28% of those asked in Wales felt like their area has been treated fairly by the 海角视频 Government during coronavirus - the lowest score of any devolved nation for this question.
A feeling of unfairness in society comes through, with some individuals and places seen as 鈥榓lways doing better than others鈥. To the statement 鈥榮ociety in the 海角视频 is fair鈥, only 25% in Wales agreed, with only the other devolved nations (Scotland 24% and Northern Ireland 21%) behind.
