Jobless figures hit 16-year high

Unemployment in Wales had fallen during summer, before rising again

Unemployment in Wales rose by 24,000 in the three months to August, bringing the total figure to 130,000.

The latest figures show that the jobless rate has gone up by 1.6% during the quarter, which is by far the biggest increase in the UK.

That means the unemployment rate in Wales now stands at 9.1%, with only the west Midlands and the north east of England higher.

The last time unemployment in in Wales was this high was in 1993.

Across the UK the figures rose by 88,000 to 2.47 million.

However, this UK increase is at the slowest rate since May 2008.

Over the summer Wales saw a reduction in unemployment, but last month it began to rise again.

'Speeding up'

Welsh Lib Dem economy spokesperson Jenny Randerson criticised the Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition Welsh Assembly Government's handling of the economy.

"This was the biggest rise of all areas of the UK, and shows that the recession is now set to be harder, deeper and longer for people and businesses in Wales," she said.

"While other areas of the UK have clearly seen a slowing in the increase in unemployment, here in Wales, it is speeding up.

"There is something seriously wrong with the Welsh economy, and these figures show the effect this is having on Welsh families and workers.

"It is high time the Labour-Plaid government got a grip. If they are right in claiming that the recession is bottoming out, then why are there more people losing their jobs than ever before?"