Wales TUC: Infrastructure investment could create 59,000 jobs and boost economic recovery

Almost 60,000 jobs could be created in Wales in the next two years through government investment in key infrastructure projects, according to a new report from Wales TUC published today.

The research – carried out for the Wales TUC by Transition Economics – shows that fast-tracking spending on projects such as social housing, public transport, and decarbonisation could make a significant contribution to the economic recovery.

Broken down by sector, projected job creation from a £6bn investment in infrastructure would mean:

• 27 thousand jobs in housing construction and energy efficiency retrofits
• 18 thousand jobs in transport upgrades
• 9 thousand jobs in energy, manufacturing, and broadband infrastructure upgrades
• 5 thousand jobs in land, forestry, and agriculture improvements

These jobs would benefit some of the sectors and demographics hit hardest by the COVID19 emergency. Over 75% of the jobs would be created in sectors that traditionally employ non-graduate workers.

Shavanah Taj, Wales TUC General Secretary, said:

“The best way to protect our economy is to keep people in work. And that’s why we’ve been calling for an extension to the job retention scheme beyond October.

“But we also need urgent action to create equitable and inclusive new job opportunities for all workers in Wales. We have suffered from long-term under-investment in our nation’s infrastructure. Investing in green and ambitious projects now will not only create work for thousands of people in Wales but will also provide huge long term benefits to the Welsh economy, which is particularly crucial as we set to leave the EU.

“The costs of inaction far outweigh the costs of making these investments. We need the UK Government to provide the level of funding that Wales needs”.

Commenting on the publication of the report, the Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie Howe, said:

“This analysis from Wales TUC shows the potential of investment in key sectors to enable a green, fair and prosperous recovery from COVID-19.

“We urgently need a recovery that increases equality, provides skills, training and employment opportunities in industries of the future, while incentivising every sector in Wales to meet the well-being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

“This analysis shows this is within reach through wise investment and bold stimulus decisions.”

TUC Cymru: Gallai buddsoddi mewn seilwaith greu 59,000 o swyddi a hybu adferiad economaidd

Gallai bron i 60,000 o swyddi gael eu creu yng Nghymru yn ystod y ddwy flynedd nesaf drwy fuddsoddiad y Llywodraeth mewn prosiectau seilwaith allweddol, yn ôl adroddiad newydd gan TUC Cymru a gyhoeddwyd heddiw.

Mae’r ymchwil – a wnaed ar ran TUC Cymru gan Transition Economics – yn dangos y gallai gwario’n gyflym ar brosiectau fel tai cymdeithasol, trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a datgarboneiddio cyfrannu’n sylweddol at adferiad yr economi.

Wedi’i ddadansoddi yn ôl sector, byddai creu swyddi rhagamcanol o fuddsoddiad o £6bn mewn seilwaith yn golygu:

• 27,000 o swyddi mewn adeiladu tai ac ôl-osod effeithlonrwydd ynni
• 18,000 o swyddi mewn uwchraddio trafnidiaeth
• 9,000 o swyddi ym maes ynni, gweithgynhyrchu ac uwchraddio seilwaith band eang
• 5,000 o swyddi mewn gwelliannau tir, coedwigaeth, ac amaethyddiaeth

Byddai’r swyddi hyn o fudd i rai o’r sectorau a demograffeg sy’n cael eu taro caletaf gan yr argyfwng Covid-19. Byddai dros 75% o’r swyddi yn cael eu creu mewn sectorau sy’n draddodiadol yn cyflogi gweithwyr nad ydynt yn raddedigion.

Dywedodd Shavanah Taj, Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol TUC Cymru:

“Y ffordd orau o ddiogelu ein heconomi yw cadw pobl mewn gwaith. A dyna  pam ein bod wedi bod yn galw am estyniad i’r cynllun cadw swyddi y tu hwnt i fis Hydref.

“Ond mae angen gweithredu ar frys hefyd i greu cyfleoedd swyddi newydd, teg a chynhwysol i bob gweithiwr yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi dioddef o danfuddsoddiad hirdymor yn ein seilwaith cenedlaethol. Bydd buddsoddi mewn prosiectau gwyrdd ac uchelgeisiol yn awr nid yn unig yn creu gwaith i filoedd o bobl yng Nghymru ond bydd hefyd yn cynnig manteision hirdymor enfawr i economi Cymru, sy’n arbennig o bwysig wrth i ni adael yr UE.

“Mae costau diffyg gweithredu yn llawer mwy na’r costau o wneud y buddsoddiadau hyn. Mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU ddarparu’r lefel o gyllid sydd ei hangen ar Gymru.”

Wrth sôn am gyhoeddi’r adroddiad, dywedodd Comisiynydd Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, Sophie Howe:

“Mae’r dadansoddiad hwn gan TUC Cymru yn dangos potensial buddsoddi mewn sectorau allweddol er mwyn galluogi adferiad gwyrdd, teg a llewyrchus o Covid-19.

“Mae angen adferiad ar frys sy’n cynyddu cydraddoldeb, yn darparu sgiliau, hyfforddiant  a chyfleoedd cyflogaeth mewn diwydiannau’r dyfodol, wrth gymell pob sector yng Nghymru i gyflawni nodau llesiant Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r dyfodol.

“Mae’r dadansoddiad hwn yn dangos bod hyn o fewn cyrraedd drwy fuddsoddiad doeth a phenderfyniadau ysgogi beiddgar.”