More than 40,000 jobs were supported by the Welsh Government in 2015/16, Economy Cabinet Secretary, Ken Skates, has announced.

The latest figures show the Welsh Government supported 5.3 per cent more jobs in 2015/16 than it did in 2014/15, and that in the last Assembly Term ( 2011 to 2016), it supported nearly 150,000 jobs in total.

Ken Skates also announced recording breaking tourism figures which show Wales attracted 10.45 million overnight visits from GB residents in 2015. This was 4.5 per cent up on 2014 figures when the number of visitors exceeded 10 million for the first time.

The figures show GB overnight visitors spent a total of nearly £2bn in Wales in 2015, an increase of almost 14 per cent on the previous year.

Mr Skates said: “These latest figures show we are making significant progress in developing Wales’ economy. In the last Assembly term Welsh Government investment supported almost 150,000 jobs and our success increased year on year throughout the Assembly term.

“Latest tourism figures show similar levels of success with more visitors from Britain than ever holidaying in Wales, more overseas trips being made in Wales, and record levels of expenditure.

“And on top of this we know employment levels in Wales have reached record highs, our unemployment rate is lower than that in the rest of the UK as whole, and our inward investment is at its highest level yet.

“There is no doubt that we have built some firm economic foundations in recent years, and that our approach is working for businesses and people across Wales. I look forward to building on this success in the coming months and years.”