Employment figures reaction

David Russ, managing director of the Centre for Business and South Wales Chamber, has offered a Welsh reaction to the latest employment figures.

David Russ, managing director of the Centre for Business and South Wales Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is good to see Wales’s employment figures heading in the right direction and the statistics from the ONS certainly back up what we’ve seen over the last 12 months.

“At the Centre for Business we have seen a stark rise in the number of budding entrepreneurs wanting support for their start-up ventures. These people are the lifeblood of the economy and, with effective support, can help grow their businesses and further boost our employment figures

“The South Wales Chamber’s last Quarterly Economic Survey also showed record levels of confidence amongst the business community in Wales, with businesses for the first time looking not only to expand their operations, but also invest in their staff as well.

“However, it is still a concern to see that youth unemployment is rising in Wales, and, while there is an appetite within the private sector to fill this void, it will need support from the public sector to help sustain this.”