Recent labour market figures show employment in Wales is rising faster than the UK average, reaching a high of 75.1%.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Committed to getting more people into work, the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning visited Rhyl to meet some of the people helped into employment thanks to the Communities for Work programme.
The programme is a key part of the Welsh Government’s Employability Plan to educate, train and prepare people for work, and remove barriers to employment.
Almost 6000 people across Wales have been helped into employment through Communities for Work which will provide a total of £70.5million of support by 2020.
The programme sees community based professionals work with young adults not in education, employment, or training (NEET) and unemployed or economically inactive adults to understand their individual complex barriers to employment and help them gain the skills, training and experience they need. Targeted groups include those from jobless households and/or Black Minority Ethnic groups, and those with barriers to employment such as limited or no skills, disabilities or work limiting health conditions, and care or childcare responsibilities.
The Minister said:
“It’s really encouraging to see a rise in employment, but unemployment and economic inactivity are still issues in Wales. Programmes such as Communities for Work and the Parents, Childcare and Employment programme (PaCE) show our commitment to tackling these issues.
“There’s strong evidence that employment provides the most sustainable route out of poverty. Communities for Work engages with people in our most deprived areas, to provide support for those who need it most and ensure everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to contribute to our society.”