Wales takes lead in job creation

The jobs news is good for First Minister Rhodri Morgan

Employment is gaining pace faster in Wales than the UK average, according to the latest official figures.

During the three months to September, the Welsh employment rate increased by 2.9% on a year earlier, with an extra 61,000 people entering the jobs market.

The latest labour force survey from National Statistics showed that the UK average rise was just 0.3%.

But Wales' employment rate - at 73% - still trails slightly behind the UK's average figure of 74.6%.

Long term

Wales also has a lower unemployment rate than the UK average: down 0.6% on a year earlier to 4.7%, compared to 5% and a fall of 0.3%.

Andrew Davies, Economic Development and Transport Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government, said the figures showed the Welsh economy was still on track for long-term sustainable growth.

The Corus steel plant at Port Talbot remains a large employer

"Our unemployment rate remains below that of the UK as a whole and we have had the biggest fall in the inactivity rate over the last year out of all the UK regions," he said.

Critics were quick to pour caution on the figures, however, saying a larger proportion of the new jobs in Wales were in the public sector.

The only sector that is creating new jobs is that in public administration Alun Cairns, Welsh Conservatives

"There is no doubt that employment is growing in Wales, but if we look closely at the figures, the only sector that is creating new jobs is that in public administration," said Alun Cairns, the Conservatives' economics spokesman at the Welsh assembly.

"Of course there is a need for more doctors and nurses, however the vast number of public sector jobs are focused on red tape and bureaucracy."

UK wide

Across Britain, the employment rates (again all seasonally adjusted) were as follows:

• Scotland 74.2%, +0.6%

• East 78.3%, -0.6%

• East Midlands 75.5%, -1.3%

• London 70.8%, +0.1%

• North East 68.3%, -0.5%

• North West 73.7%, +1.8%

• South East 79.1%, -0.3%

• South West - 78.7%, -0.3

• West Midlands - 73.3%, -0.6%

• Yorkshire and Humber - 74.3%, +1.2%

There were no figures for Northern Ireland.