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PRIVACY
Manufacturing

Manufacturing employment in Wales remains resilient despite big º£½ÇÊÓÆµ fall

The GMB union has published new research on employment in the manufacturing sector from 2010 to 2022

Manufacturing in Wales employs more than 136,000.(Image: PA)

Employment levels in the manufacturing sector in Wales are amongst the most resilient in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ, 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£½ÇÊÓÆµ as a whole.

Over the same period the GMB said manufacturing jobs across the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ 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£½ÇÊÓÆµ 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.