Look at Wales

In Wales the traditional industries of coal extraction and brick-making have declined. Unemployment in April 2003 stood at 2.8 per cent, just above the UK average of 2.7 per cent. Total employment in Wales is expected to increase this year by about 4,000 full-time jobs – more than in the rest of the UK.

Numbers employed rose by 69,000 in the year to April 2003 (3.6 per cent), against a UK average rise of just 0.2 per cent. These new jobs being created in Objective One areas mean that some 1.3 million people in Wales are now employed, with 65,000 without work. Numbers claiming unemployment benefit have fallen by 1.6 per cent (1,600 people).

Wales is home to a number of famous companies. Major new industrial sites include Redwither Industrial Complex and Wrexham Technology Park. However, the economic profile of the Isle of Anglesey is declining with high levels of unemployment, although its strategic importance should not be forgotten.

Both the first and second cities in Wales (Cardiff and Swansea) have enjoyed a consistent period of growth, with Cardiff holding the title of the ‘fastest-growing city in Europe’, and Swansea attracting massive investment and European objective funding of more than £465 million.

Cardiff has much ongoing inward investment, with the whole of south-east Wales becoming an important centre for many key industries, such as electronics, semiconductors, aerospace and automotive components. A thriving financial and business services sector has also been developed, including large customer contact centres.

Factory output should increase this year, with the recovery gaining pace next year and the year after. Non-manufacturing – particularly retailing, hotels and catering – will probably slow this year, partly reflecting a slowdown in household spending. The public sector is expected to remain strong throughout the year, as are the financial and business services sectors.

Opportunities and skills shortages

In general, employers want employees who are adaptable, entrepreneurial, good communicators and have management skills.

Specific areas of employment include the optical and electronics, and avionics and aerospace industries. British Aerospace Systems, for example, is the largest private-sector investor in North Wales and employs over 4,000 people. Other manufacturing and heavy industry employers are in engineering, steel, metalwork and components.

The construction industry also needs craftsmen and women – specifically electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers and electricians. As in many other places, there are also shortages of LGV and PCV drivers.

Nursing and care workers, police officers and teachers are also in demand, while the Pensions Department and DVLA in Swansea are continually recruiting.

Employer news

Up to 300 jobs could be created in Holyhead if Cambrian Engineering invests in a dockside development there. The Swansea Waterfront project is proceeding, creating homes and jobs at the old docks.

With daily flights between Swansea, Cardiff and London, Air Wales expects to treble its workforce to 300 within the next 18 months. Swansea Airport is expanding, and has regular flights to London and other parts of Europe. It hopes to double the size of its 100-strong workforce.

A major recruitment drive at RAF Valley could create 100 jobs, while International Rectifiers staff numbers will rise by 500 jobs by the end of 2004.

Both IKEA in Cardiff and Debenhams in Newport are opening new stores and looking for 600 to 700 people to work in management, sales, warehousing, administration, maintenance and security.

Spanish steel giant Celsa will restart steel production at Allied Steel & Wire in Cardiff, directly employing 400 people; however, Corus will lose 140 jobs at the Llanwern plant in Newport due to restructuring. Fulcrum Connections and the LG Phillips display equipment factory at Newport are to close.

The majority of factories in Swansea are recruiting, while oil giants Texaco and Total Elf Fina have employed several Service leavers. The Baglan Energy Park at Port Talbot has seen several new companies moving into the area. A recently constructed contact centre should create over 200 jobs. In Port Talbot, a new £70 million paper mill (350 jobs) is planned, and the new hospital has just opened, employing several hundred people.

Salaries

A rough guide to annual salaries is given below. This is inevitably very general and there will be variations between industries and also in various parts of the region. However, salaries in Wales are generally well below the national average.

•Manual – £10,000 to £15,000

•Semi-skilled and Supervisory – £13,000 to £21,000

•Skilled – £15,000 to £26,000

• Managerial – £22,000 to £35,000

•Executive – £35,000 and upwards

House price guide

The following prices are a rough guide only to property prices and are liable to overnight change as financial factors in the country as well as in the region affect housing

Information courtesy of the Career Transition Partnership