A NEWPORT councillor has welcomed figures showing that Wales’ employment is at a record high and unemployment has fallen beneath the UK average.

Unemployment in Wales has fallen by 6,000 in the last quarter to 102,000, which is 6.8 per cent. This is just below the rate for the same period for the UK as a whole, which stands at 6.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, the employment rate for Wales is at a record high at 56.2 per cent, making it one of the regions with the largest increase.

Cabinet member for skills and work, Cllr Deb Davies, said Newport council welcomed the figures and said the council was committed to supporting initiatives that generate employment and training for work.

She said: “The city has been through some challenging times, and we do not take things for granted having recently seen job losses at employers such as Avana Bakeries and Rowecord.”

But she added that jobs were being created in the city, including via the council achieving Welsh Government Vibrant and Viable Places funding of £14.9 million which will create up to 600 jobs.