Given that labour productivity is one of the key measures used to measure economic performance, Janet Finch-Saunders AM has spoken of a ‘productivity crisis’ in North West Wales after finding that its gross value added per hour worked in 2016 was 28% below the UK average.
After Powys, the three categories for North West Wales had the lowest productivity in Wales: Conwy and Denbighshire - 27.6% behind; Anglesey – 27.8 behind; and Gwynedd – 28.6 behind.
Janet said:
“The seriousness of these are clear when considering that in addition to North West Wales having some of the lowest productivity in Wales, Wales itself had the lowest productivity of the UK nations and regions in 2016: being 17% below the UK average.
“These figure leave no room for doubt that after 19 years of Welsh Labour control of the Welsh Government, it is failing not only the economy of Wales, but especially the North West.
“Last November, I called on the Welsh Government to do more to encourage economic growth and business confidence in North West Wales by producing a strategy for the region.
“Now, more than ever, a strong strategy is needed by the Welsh Government for North West Wales so to boost economic growth and address the productivity crisis”.
Notes
Gross value added per hour worked – NUTS3 sub-regions in Wales, smoothed, current prices, 2016
