“Latest unemployment figures will be seen as a blow” says Leader of Welsh Lib Dems

COMMENTING on the latest set of unemployment figures, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:

“This slight increase in unemployment figures will come as a blow to many especially those recently made redundant who are looking to return to work.

“The UK Government’s furlough scheme is keeping many a float, but it is not a sustainable solution if this pandemic continues.

“Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for an economic re-think including the creation of a Green Jobs Fund.

“This government backed project would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to both tackle potential mass unemployment, and reshape the economy on more environmental lines. The Green Jobs Fund would include a green jobs guarantee, giving people training in new, environmental industries such as renewable energy and insulating homes. Such jobs would include the productions and installation of home insulation products as well as and energy conservation and the creation and construction of new renewable energy projects.”

Latest figures show:

For the three months ending November 2020, the highest employment rate estimate in the UK was in the South East (78.7%) and the lowest was in Northern Ireland (70.6%).

For the three months ending November 2020, the highest unemployment rate estimate in the UK was in London (6.9%) and the lowest was in Northern Ireland (3.2%).

For the three months ending November 2020, the highest economic inactivity rate estimate in the UK was in Northern Ireland (27.0%) and the lowest was in the South East (18.2%).

Between June and September 2020, workforce jobs decreased in all regions of the UK, except for Wales, which increased by 11,000; the largest decrease was in London at 98,000.

In September 2020, the region with the highest estimated proportion of workforce jobs in the services sector was London at 92.0%, while the East Midlands had the highest proportion of jobs in the production sector at 12.5%.

Total weekly hours worked, for the 12 months ending September 2020, varied between London, with 147 million hours worked and Northern Ireland, with 26 million hours worked; the South East saw the largest decrease in total weekly hours worked compared with the same period last year, down 13.2 million hours per week.

The highest average estimated actual weekly hours worked, for the 12 months ending September 2020, was in London at 30.9 hours and the lowest was in the North East at 27.9 hours; for full-time workers, it was highest in London and Northern Ireland, both at 35.0 hours, and for part-time workers it was highest in Northern Ireland at 15.0 hours.

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