The latest economic statistics show that Wales continues to have the lowest employment rate in Great Britain, at 71.8%, which is 0.8% lower than the previous month. Wales also continues to have the highest economic inactivity rate in Great Britain, at 24.8%.
These figures are especially concerning when viewed in the context of a UK-wide drop of 22,000 job postings in the hospitality sector. The Chief Executive of UKHospitality, Allen Simpson, noted that this decline is a result of increases to National Insurance contributions for employers, along with other pressures placed on businesses following the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget.
Janet Finch-Saunders, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy and a strong advocate for the tourism and hospitality sector, has expressed concern over the employment figures.
Commenting on the latest data, Janet said:
“This continued decrease in employment in Wales is extremely concerning, as it highlights where our economy is struggling, as well as the serious failures of both the Welsh and UK Governments in addressing these issues and the negative impacts of the policies they have implemented.
“When comparing these figures with the significant drop in job postings for the hospitality sector, it paints a worrying picture. In Wales, tourism-related industries account for 11.8% of total employment, with 77% of those jobs being in hospitality.
“Instead of implementing harmful policies such as the Visitor Levy, the Welsh Government should be focusing on supporting the tourism and hospitality sector, which would, in turn, help improve employment rates and strengthen the Welsh economy.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Mae’r ystadegau economaidd diweddaraf yn dangos mai Cymru sydd â’r gyfradd gyflogaeth isaf ym Mhrydain Fawr o hyd, sef 71.8%, sydd 0.8% yn is na’r mis blaenorol. Cymru hefyd sydd â’r gyfradd anweithgarwch economaidd uchaf ym Mhrydain Fawr, sef 24.8%.
Mae’r ffigurau hyn yn arbennig o bryderus o edrych arnynt yng nghyd-destun gostyngiad ledled y DU o 22,000 o swyddi yn y sector lletygarwch. Nododd Prif Weithredwr UKHospitality, Allen Simpson, fod y gostyngiad hwn yn sgil cynnydd yng nghyfraniadau Yswiriant Gwladol cyflogwyr, ynghyd â phwysau arall ar fusnesau yn dilyn Cyllideb Hydref y Canghellor.
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy ac eiriolwr cryf dros y sector twristiaeth a lletygarwch, wedi mynegi pryder am y ffigurau cyflogaeth.
Gan gyfeirio at y data diweddaraf, dywedodd Janet:
“Mae’r gostyngiad parhaus hwn mewn cyflogaeth yng Nghymru yn destun pryder mawr, gan ei fod yn tynnu sylw at ble mae ein heconomi mewn trafferthion, yn ogystal â methiannau difrifol Llywodraeth Cymru a’r DU wrth fynd i’r afael â’r materion hyn ac effeithiau negyddol y polisïau maen nhw wedi’u gweithredu.
“Wrth gymharu’r ffigurau hyn â’r gostyngiad sylweddol mewn hysbysebion swyddi ar gyfer y sector lletygarwch, mae’n cyfleu darlun gofidus. Yng Nghymru, mae diwydiannau sy’n gysylltiedig â thwristiaeth yn cyfrif am 11.8% o gyfanswm cyflogaeth, gyda 77% o’r swyddi hynny ym maes lletygarwch.
“Yn hytrach na gweithredu polisïau niweidiol fel yr Ardoll Ymwelwyr, dylai Llywodraeth Cymru fod yn canolbwyntio ar gefnogi’r sector twristiaeth a lletygarwch, a fyddai, yn ei dro, yn helpu i wella cyfraddau cyflogaeth a chryfhau economi Cymru.”
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
