This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-26255484
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Wales unemployment falls by 12,000 to a rate of 7.1% | Wales unemployment falls by 12,000 to a rate of 7.1% |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The unemployment rate in Wales has fallen to a rate lower than that for the UK as a whole, the Office for National Statistics has said. | The unemployment rate in Wales has fallen to a rate lower than that for the UK as a whole, the Office for National Statistics has said. |
| The number of people out of work in Wales fell by 12,000 to 105,000 in the three months to December, a rate of 7.1%. | The number of people out of work in Wales fell by 12,000 to 105,000 in the three months to December, a rate of 7.1%. |
| The new UK average is 7.2%. | The new UK average is 7.2%. |
| Across the UK, 2.3m people were unemployed, 125,000 fewer than last summer, while average earnings increased by 1.1%. | Across the UK, 2.3m people were unemployed, 125,000 fewer than last summer, while average earnings increased by 1.1%. |
| The last time Wales had a lower rate of unemployment than the UK average was from April to June 2009, when it was 7.6% in Wales and 7.8% across the UK. | |
| Wales had the same unemployment rate as the UK average from January to March 2011, at 7.8%. | |
| Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "With Wales seeing the largest annual increase in the employment rate out of all the UK regions - up 2.1 points to 70.8% - it's clear that the government's long-term plan to build a stronger, more secure economy is helping businesses create jobs and get people into work. | Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "With Wales seeing the largest annual increase in the employment rate out of all the UK regions - up 2.1 points to 70.8% - it's clear that the government's long-term plan to build a stronger, more secure economy is helping businesses create jobs and get people into work. |
| "Across the UK, employment continues to increase and youth unemployment continues to fall, which means more people have the security of a regular wage and can plan for their future." | "Across the UK, employment continues to increase and youth unemployment continues to fall, which means more people have the security of a regular wage and can plan for their future." |
| The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said surveys indicated its members now have the confidence to take on staff. | |
| Welsh Policy Unit Chair Janet Jones said: "One way that our members have been able to take on young people is through the Young Recruits Programme apprenticeship scheme, which has proved so popular that it has been oversubscribed. | |
| "It is clear that such schemes can make a real difference in helping small firms to tackle youth unemployment." |