Official Statement from Plaid Cymru regarding the consequences of Youth Unemployment

Plaid Cymru Llanelli have expressed alarming concern after research published recently by the Work Foundation Study revealed that Britain is now only behind Spain and Greece with respect to Youth Unemployment statistics.

The unemployment rate in Wales currently stands at 8.4% with more males unemployed at 8.9% compared to females at 7.8%. Llanelli is reflecting the national picture with an unemployment rate of 6.2%, again with more male unemployment at 6.8% compared to female unemployment at 5.6%.

The situation also resulted in Plaid’s youth movement ‘Plaid Cymru Ifanc’ launching an online petition nationally called ‘Work for Wales’ urging the Welsh Government to develop a plan of action and respond by protecting Wales from the damaging cuts being imposed by the Con/Dem coalition.

Mike Burns, Plaid Bigyn Town Councillor said:

“The statistics are clearly of concern, our economy is continuing to decline as a result of the austerity measures introduced by the U.K Government and the inactivity of the Welsh Government. We are particularly concerned with the high levels of Youth Unemployment in Llanelli. I believe that by creating job opportunities and investing in apprenticeships our young people will be helped to continue with their lives locally if they wish. Plaid Cymru in Llanelli firmly believes that if the U.K government does not change course, we will have lost a generation of talented young people throughout Wales.”

Jeff Owen, Plaid Tyisha County Councillor added:

“As a result of the failing economic policies that have been introduced under successive governments in Westminster, so many in our communities here in Llanelli are continuing to live each day below the poverty line. Hard working families are suffering due to the severity of these cuts. I am also worried by the extent of the latest suicide figures as there has been a gradual increase in suicide rates here in Wales since 2008. Plaid Cymru in Llanelli believes that we must now have an emergency economic stimulus package to invest in job growth and infrastructure in order to provide hope to local residents and re-build our fragile economy locally.”