Employment levels in the manufacturing sector in Wales are amongst the most resilient in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, according to new research from the GMB union.
In 2010 the sector employed 137,100 and last year had fallen marginally by 0.4% to 136,500 - a decline of 600 roles. In terms of overall employment and contribution to GDP, manufacturing in Wales has a much higher impact than for the º£½ÇÊÓƵ as a whole.
Over the same period the GMB said manufacturing jobs across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ declined by 6.7% from 2.88m to 2.68m - a decline of 192,000.
The biggest fall was experienced in Scotland with a 15.7% dip from 199,000 to 167,000 - a loss of 31,300 jobs. In Northern it declined 14.6% (down 12,900) from 88,500 to 75,600.
Not all parts of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ experienced decline with the West Midlands adding 25,500 jobs, representing an 8% increase from 320,700 to 346,200. London was also up 3.7% having seen number increase 5,300 to 142,300.
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB national officer, said: “The loss of almost 200,000 jobs is devastating for those workers – and their wider communities.
“Every job lost means a household income more stretched. In the worst cost of living crisis for a generation we need more decent, skilled jobs – not to shed them at this rate.
“Ministers must address this urgently or there could be worse to come.
“The global green jobs race could revolutionise º£½ÇÊÓƵ manufacturing – creating tens of thousands of jobs in fabrication for new wind, solar and nuclear.
“But this government (º£½ÇÊÓƵ) seems happy to let them all disappear overseas.â€
Manufacturing employment – 2010 to 2022
Nation/Region | 2010 | 2022 | Change (n) | Change (%) |
United Kingdom | 2,882,100 | 2,689,600 | -192,500 | -6.7 |
North East | 126,100 | 123,000 | -3,100 | -2.5 |
North West | 363,200 | 320,600 | -42,600 | -11.7 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 286,400 | 272,000 | -14,400 | -5.0 |
East Midlands | 317,300 | 278,200 | -39,100 | -12.3 |
West Midlands | 320,700 | 346,200 | 25,500 | 8.0 |
East | 286,400 | 246,300 | -40,100 | -14.0 |
London | 142,300 | 147,500 | 5,200 | 3.7 |
South East | 338,500 | 327,000 | -11,500 | -3.4 |
South West | 276,700 | 249,200 | -27,500 | -9.9 |
Wales | 137,100 | 136,500 | -600 | -0.4 |
Scotland | 199,000 | 167,700 | -31,300 | -15.7 |
Northern Ireland | 88,500 | 75,600 | -12,900 | -14.6 |
Read More:
South Wales and West of England could create 40,000 hydrogen related jobs
