Unemployment in the "Valleys" of South-East Wales is high

Wales - Facts and Figures

Wales...
... has an ageing population:

• The Welsh population of 2.9 million is relatively old, with the second highest proportion of people of pensionable age in the UK at about 20 per cent of the population.
• It also has the lowest proportion among all regions of 16-44 year olds.

...has high unemployment, and more industrial employment than other parts of the UK:

• Wales has the lowest economic activity rate in the UK, apart from Merseyside.
• Wales has the highest level of youth unemployment - 34.8% of 16-24 year olds are unemployed (1997).
• Three in ten of those who are in employment are employed in industry.
• Wales has one of the highest levels of trades union membership in the country, with around 4 in 10 of those employed in Wales belong to a union.

... is relatively poor:

• Average earnings for both men and women are the second lowest in the UK.
• Two-thirds of the Welsh population live in industrial and mining areas which have undergone de-industrialisation and have relatively high levels of deprivation.
• However, 71% of Welsh homes are owner-occupied compared to a UK average of 67%.

... but the Welsh language is reviving:

• The number of primary school pupils who can speak Welsh non-fluently has doubled in the last 15 years, from 31,000 in 1980 to 61,000 in 1995.
• The proportion of secondary school pupils taught Welsh as a second language has increased from 40% in 1980 to 66% in 1995.
• Only 1% of secondary schools do not teach Welsh, compared to 15% in 1980.
• However only 500,000 people consider themselves Welsh speakers, that is 18.5 per cent of the Welsh population.

Detailed statistics for Wales can be found on the web site of the
Statistical Directorate of the Welsh Office
The BBC does not endorse external websites