PEMBROKESHIRE workers are among the higher earners in Wales, according to new research analysing full-time weekly pay across the country.

The study by CV Maker, using Office for National Statistics data from April 2025, placed Pembrokeshire eighth out of Wales’ 22 local authority areas for median gross weekly earnings.

Full-time workers in Pembrokeshire earn an average of £711.30 per week, putting the county slightly above the Welsh average of £704.

The figure also places Pembrokeshire ahead of Swansea, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Powys and Gwynedd.

By comparison, Monmouthshire was named the highest-paid area in Wales, with full-time workers earning an average of £773.50 per week. Merthyr Tydfil recorded the lowest figure, at £619.20 per week.

That means the gap between the highest and lowest-paid areas in Wales is £154.30 per week, equivalent to more than £8,000 a year.

Pembrokeshire’s average weekly earnings are £7.30 above the Welsh average, but £62.20 below Monmouthshire.

The figures also show a marked difference between Pembrokeshire and neighbouring Carmarthenshire, where full-time workers earn an average of £657.70 per week. That puts Pembrokeshire workers £53.60 per week better off on average, or around £2,787 a year.

Ceredigion sits closer to Pembrokeshire, with average weekly earnings of £675.70 — £35.60 lower than Pembrokeshire.

The research ranked the ten highest-paid areas in Wales as Monmouthshire, Newport, Flintshire, Cardiff, Bridgend, Wrexham, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and the Isle of Anglesey.

Nicky Klaasse, CEO at CV Maker, said: “These figures highlight the significant wage disparities across different regions in Wales.

“While the national average weekly earnings sit at £704, there’s a notable £154 gap between the highest and lowest-paying areas.

“For job seekers in Wales, this data provides valuable insights into where the highest earning potential might be found.”

The company said the figures were based on ONS median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees, ranked by local authority.

WELSH homeowners are being urged to check whether they qualify for government-backed support for solar panels and other energy-saving improvements as energy bills prepare to rise again.

Energy regulator Ofgem has confirmed that the price cap will rise by 13% from July 1, adding about £221 a year to the bill of a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit.

The increase means the average annual bill will rise from £1,641 to £1,862, although the actual amount paid will depend on how much energy a household uses.

Support already available

In Wales, homeowners can access help through schemes including Green Homes Wales and Nest Warm Homes.

Green Homes Wales, a Welsh Government scheme managed by the Development Bank of Wales, offers interest-free finance and funded expert support to help eligible owner-occupiers improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

More than £5m in additional funding has been confirmed for the scheme for 2026–27, following strong demand.

The support is not limited only to the lowest-income households, making it available to a broader group of homeowners considering improvements such as solar panels, insulation, heat pumps and battery storage.

England scheme still developing

Similar support in England is expected under the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan, which includes proposals for low-interest and zero-interest loans for measures such as solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, smart controls and insulation.

However, that wider loan support has not yet been rolled out in the same way as the existing Welsh scheme.

Ian Mach, director of Swansea-based Ulex Energy, said: “With energy bills rising again, now is a good time for homeowners to consider whether solar could work for them.

“Many people are unaware that funding is available beyond lower-income households, particularly through schemes such as Green Homes Wales. Meanwhile, equivalent proposals in England have yet to be launched.”

VAT relief deadline

Homeowners can also currently benefit from 0% VAT on qualifying energy-saving installations, including solar panels and battery storage.

That relief is due to remain in place until March 31, 2027, after which the rate is expected to return to 5%.

Ulex Energy, based in Swansea, provides solar and battery storage systems across South Wales and was recently named a finalist in the Wales Energy Efficiency Awards 2026.

Bank promises investment in face-to-face banking as Pembrokeshire communities reflect on years of lost local branches

NATWEST has pledged not to announce any further branch closures across Wales until at least 2029, bringing to an end years of banking shutdowns that have dramatically reshaped access to face-to-face services in communities across Pembrokeshire and beyond.

The banking giant confirmed on Friday (June 5) that it will make no further closure announcements in Wales or the rest of the UK for at least three years, while investing £50 million into modernising and upgrading its branch network over the next 18 months.

The announcement comes after widespread criticism over the loss of local banking services, particularly in rural communities where residents and businesses have struggled with reduced access to cash and in-person support.

NatWest said the move marks the conclusion of its current programme of branch changes, although two final Welsh branches — Llanelli and Port Talbot — are still set to close in September.

The bank said counter transactions had fallen by 53 per cent in Port Talbot and 74 per cent in Llanelli between January 2020 and January 2026, although that period included Covid restrictions and changes to customer behaviour during and after the pandemic.

A changing banking landscape

NatWest says 95 per cent of customers now use digital services for day-to-day banking, but insisted face-to-face support remains vital for important life events and more complex financial matters.

The bank said investment over the next two years will include branch refurbishments, relocations and potential new branches where customer demand justifies it.

The bank also plans to expand its mobile branch network across Wales, increasing community stops and access to in-person services in areas no longer served by permanent branches.

NatWest says its Welsh mobile banking service currently covers around 2,550 miles every week and is expected to serve approximately 18,000 customers during 2026.

Solange Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Retail Banking at NatWest Group, said: “This is an important moment for our customers and the communities we serve.

“We are investing to offer customers a seamless mix of ways to bank with us including over the phone, digitally, or via our free-to-use ATM network — while continuing to support those who prefer face-to-face banking in branches and community banking hubs.”

Pembrokeshire branch closures

Pembrokeshire has already experienced a major reduction in NatWest’s branch network.

In 2018, NatWest closed branches in Pembroke, Cardigan, Milford Haven and Narberth, leaving Haverfordwest as the county’s only remaining branch.

The closures took place over a six-week period, with Pembroke shutting on May 21, Cardigan on May 30, Milford Haven on June 21 and Narberth on June 28.

At the time, concerns were raised by residents, business owners and campaigners who warned that elderly customers, those without reliable internet access and rural communities would be disproportionately affected.

Cash-handling businesses also expressed concern about longer travel distances for deposits and banking services.

NatWest defended the closures by pointing to changing customer habits and growing use of online and mobile banking.

The Haverfordwest branch has since remained open and was recently refurbished as part of NatWest’s investment programme in Wales.

Face-to-face banking still valued

Despite the shift toward digital banking, banking campaigners have long argued that branches remain essential in market towns and rural communities such as those found across west Wales.

The Herald understands concerns about access to banking services remain particularly strong in Pembrokeshire, where public transport links can make travelling to larger towns difficult for older residents.

NatWest said customers affected by the remaining Welsh closures will continue to have access to services through Post Offices, banking hubs and nearby branches.

The bank said it would continue to invest in financial support programmes, including financial health checks, school visits and workplace education designed to improve confidence in money management.

For many in Pembrokeshire, however, the pledge may be viewed less as expansion and more as a long-awaited pause after years of retreat from the high street.