New figures show rising employment across Wales while local teams support businesses, young people and the care sector

JOBCENTRE PLUS teams across South-West Wales are stepping up support for both employers and jobseekers as businesses prepare for the busy summer season.

The latest employment figures show that 1.494 million people are now in work across Wales – an increase of 9,000 over the last quarter and 18,000 compared to the same period last year. The Welsh employment rate now stands at 72.3%.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says Jobcentre Work Coaches and Recruitment Consultants are continuing to play a key role in helping people move into employment while supporting businesses struggling to fill vacancies.

Wyn Morris, DWP Recruitment Consultant Manager for South-West Wales, said: “During the busy summer season, Jobcentres remain focused on helping individuals take advantage of seasonal employment opportunities.

“We are working closely with employers to increase the supply of workers across sectors such as tourism, hospitality, retail and events, while also delivering job fairs and targeted initiatives to help young people secure suitable roles.”

He added that Neath Port Talbot had seen a 12 per cent reduction in Universal Credit claimants aged 50 and over, with specialist support continuing for older workers as well as people with disabilities and health conditions.

Focus on care sector recruitment

The care sector remains a major priority, with Jobcentre Plus working alongside organisations including Social Care Wales, Barcud Housing, the Care Society and the NHS to tackle recruitment challenges.

Recent initiatives, including childcare support and the Movement to Work programme, have helped increase the number of candidates entering care roles across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and West Wales.

One recent recruitment campaign with M&D Care resulted in six candidates being interviewed, with all six offered jobs.

Another success involved a participant on an NHS vocational programme securing a permanent role within Support Services at Morriston Hospital.

The DWP said these outcomes demonstrate the value of tailored support and structured routes into employment.

Young people finding work

Supporting young people into sustainable employment remains a key focus.

One success story is Carlos, 18, who began claiming Universal Credit after leaving school in February and was unsure about his future career path.

Working closely with Jobcentre staff, he developed a CV, improved his interview skills and took part in the Movement to Work programme.

He later secured a permanent 30-hour-a-week position with A.F. Blakemore in Llantrisant.

Carlos said: “This experience really helped me understand the world of work. The support I received gave me the confidence and motivation I needed to secure a job. I’m very grateful for everything the Jobcentre has done for me.”

Lindsey Beasley, DWP Recruitment Consultant for Llantrisant, said personalised support can make a significant difference to young people’s prospects.

“When young people receive personalised support, they build confidence, develop skills and take meaningful steps into employment,” she said.

Transport concerns raised in Fishguard

Employment barriers in Pembrokeshire were also discussed during a recent meeting involving representatives from Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council, tourism businesses and local Senedd Member Kerry Ferguson.

A lack of public transport was identified as a significant obstacle for many jobseekers, particularly those under 25.

Discussions also explored the possibility of creating community-based facilities, including youth hubs, to support skills development and employment opportunities.

Partners attending the meeting pledged to strengthen engagement with local employers, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, and encourage more work experience opportunities.

£1.5 billion investment for young people

The Government has announced more than £1.5 billion of funding over the next three years to help young people aged 16 to 24 gain employment, education or training opportunities.

This includes £820 million for the Youth Guarantee and £725 million through the Growth and Skills Levy.

The Youth Guarantee aims to ensure every young person has access to work, training or education opportunities, helping them develop the skills needed for long-term employment.

Sian Davies, Recruitment Consultant Manager for South-West Wales, said employers could benefit from financial support when recruiting young people.

“Employers can access funding through two main routes: a six-month wage subsidy via the Youth Guarantee or a £3,000 job grant,” she said.

“Eligibility depends on the length of time a young person has been out of work.”

National picture

Commenting on the latest employment figures, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said there were now 400,000 more people in work across the UK than a year ago.

He said the Government’s employment reforms and investment programmes were designed to create opportunities for young people while supporting disabled people and others facing barriers to work.

The DWP says Jobcentres will continue working with employers and community partners throughout the summer to help fill vacancies and support economic growth across Wales.

Ten more defendants dealt with after disorder following deaths of two teenagers

EMOTIONAL scenes broke out at Cardiff Crown Court as another ten defendants were sentenced over the Ely riot which followed the deaths of teenagers Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans.

The boys, aged 16 and 15, died in May 2023 when an e-bike crashed in the Ely area of Cardiff. Their deaths led to a night of serious disorder, with police attacked, vehicles set alight and missiles thrown in the street.

On Thursday (June 18), Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke had to warn the public gallery after gasps, tears and shouted comments during the hearing.

Seven men were jailed for their roles in the violence.

Zayne Farrugia, 26, from Caerau, received the longest sentence of the day at six years. The court heard he joined the front line of the confrontation and threw a number of missiles at police.

Jordan Webster, 30, from Ely, was jailed for five years and seven months. He threw stones and helped move debris into the road as officers tried to bring the disorder under control.

Jamie Bateman, 27, from Caerau, was sentenced to five years and nine months after the court heard he threw missiles and encouraged others to use broken paving slabs during the riot.

Liam Williams, 21, from Rumney, was jailed for four years and three months after bringing fuel and aerosol cans to the scene, which were later used by others to feed a fire.

Jamie Jones, 25, from Llanrumney, was sentenced to five years and two months, while Jayden Westcott, 21, from Ely, received the same term. James Chappell, 31, from Barry, was jailed for four years and four months.

Three women, who were all teenagers at the time of the riot, avoided immediate prison sentences.

Lianna Tucker, 20, from Ely, Jasmine Smith, 21, from Heath, and Jumana Fouad, 19, from Ely, were each handed 24-month community orders with rehabilitation requirements.

The court was told that rumours about the crash had spread quickly on the night, fuelling anger in the crowd. What began as a gathering of upset residents developed into hours of violence, with officers pelted with objects including bricks, bottles, tiles and other debris.

Ten defendants were sentenced on Wednesday, and the hearings are continuing, with 30 people due to be sentenced in total.

Doctors in Wales warn years of ‘neglect’ have left emergency services struggling, with one in six patients facing lengthy waits in hospital emergency departments

MORE than 11,000 patients waited longer than 12 hours in Welsh emergency departments last month, prompting senior doctors to warn that the newly elected Welsh Government must urgently address what they describe as years of neglect within the emergency care system.

New NHS Wales figures for May 2026 reveal that 11,000 patients attending major emergency departments across Wales experienced waits exceeding 12 hours before being admitted, discharged or transferred.

The figure represents 15.8 per cent of all attendances – meaning roughly one in every six patients faced what doctors described as an “unacceptably long” delay.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Wales said the situation has deteriorated significantly over the past decade, despite emergency department attendances rising by only around six per cent during that period.

According to the College, the problem is being driven not by overwhelming numbers of people attending A&E, but by wider pressures throughout hospitals, particularly a shortage of available inpatient beds and difficulties discharging patients who are medically fit to leave.

The latest statistics show an average of 1,275 patients each day remained in hospital beds despite being ready for discharge.

As a result, patients needing admission are unable to move from emergency departments into wards, causing delays to build throughout the system.

Four-hour target missed

The data also showed only 51.2 per cent of patients were admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours during May.

The constitutional target for Wales is 95 per cent.

Performance against the four-hour standard has worsened compared with the same month last year, further highlighting the continuing pressures facing emergency departments.

Dr Rob Perry, Vice President of RCEM Wales, said the impact on patients could be severe.

“The impact of long waits on patients, particularly older people and the acutely sick or injured, can be dire – and even life-threatening,” he said.

“This can’t continue and the long-term neglect of the Emergency Care system in Wales is taking its toll on the people it is there to serve.

“And, on the other side, working in such conditions is taking its toll on us – the emergency medicine staff who have to look patients in the eyes, when we know they are being let down. It’s heartbreaking.”

Call for government action

The intervention places fresh pressure on the new Welsh Government, led by Plaid Cymru, to outline how it intends to tackle longstanding NHS performance issues.

Dr Perry called for urgent action to improve patient flow through hospitals, arguing that reducing delayed discharges would have an immediate impact on emergency department waiting times.

Among the measures proposed by RCEM are seven-day discharge services, increased social care capacity and greater responsibility across hospital departments for ensuring patients move efficiently through the system.

“We need urgent action; we need to know what plans the new Plaid Cymru government have to tackle patient flow in our hospitals,” Dr Perry said.

“Getting this right will save lives.

“The government should consider how best to tackle the root causes of overcrowding in our departments – such as delayed discharges.”

Wider NHS pressures

The figures come amid continuing concern over NHS waiting times across Wales and follow recent announcements of additional funding aimed at reducing treatment backlogs.

However, emergency medicine specialists argue that emergency departments are increasingly bearing the consequences of wider pressures elsewhere in the health and social care system.

RCEM says overcrowding in emergency departments is not simply an A&E issue but reflects problems throughout the healthcare pathway, including shortages in social care provision and difficulties finding appropriate placements for patients ready to leave hospital.

The College believes addressing these bottlenecks could significantly reduce the number of patients forced to spend many hours waiting on trolleys or in chairs within busy emergency departments.

With more than one in six emergency patients now waiting beyond 12 hours and performance against the four-hour target continuing to decline, the latest figures are likely to intensify scrutiny of how the Welsh Government plans to improve emergency care services in the months ahead.