THE number of people unemployed in Wales shot up by 16,000 in the past quarter to 131,000.

The Welsh Government promised do "all it can" to get more young people into work following the publication of "disappointing" new unemployment figures, Business Minister Edwina Hart has insisted.

Across the UK, unemployment reached a 17-year high after more than 100,000 people joined the ranks of those looking for a job.

The number of those who are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance also rose, by 800 in a month, and youth employment also saw further increases.

As in previous months, Ms Hart described the figures as "extremely disappointing" but said the Welsh Government was doing all it could to support businesses.

Yesterday, the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay announced a scheme to create 12,000 youth jobs over the next three years.

Ms Hart said: "Our new £75 million Jobs Growth Wales scheme will create 4,000 jobs a year for three years for young jobseekers across Wales and our extended Adapt programme is targeting people who have lost jobs in the public sector and is helping them to retrain and to get back into work.

"While many of the macro-economic levers are the responsibility of the UK Government, we are continuing to do all we can to support businesses in Wales.’’ Figures out today showed the unemployment rate in Wales now stands at 9%, with the overall claimant count this year being 78,300 - an annual rise of 6,500.

The principality's employment rate, 67.3%, is 3.1 points below the national average.

The statistics were reflected across the UK, where unemployment has reached a total of 2.57 million and youth unemployment hit a record high of 991,000.

Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said she was aware of a strong appetite for more opportunities for young people in Wales.

"It is important we nurture and provide these opportunities for young people, to prove that work always pays,’’ she added.

"I cautiously welcome the Welsh Government's Jobs Growth Wales programme, as any job opportunities are good news.

"But it is important that these are sustainable and beneficial for long-term employment."

Mrs Gillan also welcomed the Welsh Government's recent announcement that it would set up enterprise zones.

The five new areas - which will each be for a different industry - are proposed to be in Anglesey, Ebbw Vale, Deeside, St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff.

Companies investing in the sites will receive rate relief and may benefit from tax breaks to expand.