Assembly Member for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders, is calling on the Welsh Government to take urgent measures to help support businesses grow and increase the number of jobs in North Wales. This follows her finding that North Wales saw a fall of 6,400 jobs from 2015 to 2016, whilst South West Wales saw an increase of 12,500.
Janet said:
“These figures are extremely concerning, as what they show is that there were fewer jobs in North Wales in 2016 than 2015. When we are moving further away from the recession, North Wales should have a similar pattern to South Wales: an increase.
“The help that is needed to merely recover the number of jobs to the 2015 level, before building on that, is suggested when identifying the industries which have seen falls from 2015 to 2016.
“Production has seen a loss of 5,600 jobs; Wholesale, retail, transport, hotels and food: 200; Professional, scientific and technical activities, administrative and support service activities: 3,500; Public administration, defence, education and health: 2,600; and other service activities: 1,400.
“Looking at these losses, it is clear that the Welsh Government needs a strategy for reviving jobs across a variety of industries, and especially production in North Wales. Some steps that could be taken immediately include offering fairer business rate relief support, introducing trade envoys to raise Wales’ commercial presence globally, and improving skills and training through, for example, opening a medical school in Bangor”.
ENDS
Notes
Workplace employment by Welsh local areas and broad industry
AM puts pressure on Welsh Government to open a medical school in Bangor
Rates shocker for Conwy and Gwynedd firms where bills will rise more than any other county in Wales
