New statistics from the Office for National Statistics says that Wales has the worst rate of economic inactivity, but has one of the lowest rates of joblessness. The ONS have said the recent findings should be taken with caution, so we take a look at what the figures mean for Wales.
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00:00The Office for National Statistics has recently released its latest figures on economic inactivity
00:06around the United Kingdom, and has found Wales to have the worst rates of anywhere in the
00:11country.
00:12The statistics show that over 28% of people in Wales are economically inactive, compared
00:17to roughly 23% around the rest of the UK.
00:20But the statistics also go on to show that Wales has one of the lowest joblessness rates
00:24anywhere in the UK, so other reasons are to blame for Wales's economic inactivity.
00:30Economic inactivity can happen for a number of reasons, and include the figures of people
00:33who are retired, studying, are on long-term sick, or are caring for a loved one at home,
00:38so do not show a clear picture of employment.
00:41Wales has traditionally had an older and sicker population than elsewhere in the UK, with
00:45people facing long-term illness from work being the biggest factor in Wales's economic
00:49inactivity.
00:51The number had been falling sharply in Wales for the last decade or so, before rising again
00:55through the pandemic, which also happened elsewhere in the UK.