YOUTH unemployment has halved in Ceredigion in the last five years, official statistics show.

Ceredigion has seen a 17% decrease in youth unemployment in the past year alone, according to latest Labour Market statistics released by the ONS.

The statistics showed that 10,000 more people were now employed in Wales.

As well as youth unemployment decreasing, unemployment overall in Ceredigion has reduced by 18% with 'more people than ever' now in employment.

Shan Gwyn, part of the employer and partner team at Job Centre Plus, said: “It is hard to predict what the future will bring with regards to employment, but the last five years has been promising and we really hope that this will indeed continue into the future. Over the past five years we've seen a steady decrease in unemployment and, for example, in youth unemployment in Ceredigion has reduced by 54%, over half since 2010.

“Being such a rural county it is surprising how many small and micro businesses there are. However these do offer a range of jobs for people.”

Employment minister, Priti Patel said the figures confirmed that the 'long-term economic plan is already starting to deliver a better, more prosperous future for the whole of the country, with wages rising, more people finding jobs and more women in work than ever before'.

“As the Government for working people, we want to go further and create one nation that is based on security and opportunity," said the minister.

“With an extra 10,000 people in work in Wales over the last year, we will continue to help Welsh businesses create jobs and support those who want to work hard and get on as part of our ambition to achieve full employment.”

A total of 1.398 million people are now in work in Wales, with 97,000 more people employed in the private sector since 2010.

Youth unemployment in Wales was down by 800 over the last month and down 5,200 over the year.

Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb, who is also the MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, said the figures pointed to a healthy economic recovery across Wales.

"With employment increasing by 9,000 over the last quarter alone, and the claimant count falling now for the 27th consecutive month, Wales is sharing in the UK’s remarkable jobs growth," he said.

"I am especially pleased that youth unemployment continues to fall. The business-led recovery is creating new employment and training opportunities for Wales’s young people and it is important that this continues. Our number one priority is to see all of Wales benefit from the strengthening economy."

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Combined with other recently published key economic indicators, such as the second largest increase in disposable household income in the UK, these figures show our policies are making a difference for workers and their families.

“Last year over 38,000 jobs were created, safeguarded or assisted by Welsh Government, while our record-breaking inward investment performance brought more than 100 new investment projects to Wales, creating and safeguarding almost 10,000 more jobs.

“These are real achievements and a clear demonstration of the confidence the private sector is showing in the Welsh economy.”

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