Concern over "unacceptable" unemployment rate

Concerns have ben raised over the unemployment rates in Newtown and throughout Montgomeryshire.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats claim the rates are "unacceptable high" at 7.3 per cent compared to 3.8 per cent as the Welsh national average and a UK average of 4.5 per cent.

The party has urged the Welsh Government to take action with new investment in the area to help create new jobs.

However, many employers say they are unable to recruit the numbers they need which has raised questions over the unemployment rate and availability of workers.

Manufacturers in the area have said they are struggling to recruit despite increasing orders and growth in some cases.

Jane Dodds, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader, said: “These figures are absolutely shocking, there is no justification that allows for unemployment in Montgomeryshire to be this high. The County has a strong history of entrepreneurship and innovation, but we need the Welsh Government to increase investment to provide more opportunities to people in Montgomeryshire."

Alison Alexander, a party spokesperson for Montgomeryshire, said: “Even within north and south Powys, we can see a huge discrepancy in the figures with Brecon and Radnorshire only seeing an unemployment rate of 4% in comparison to the extraordinarily high rates here."

The Welsh Government has been asked to comment.