First Minister Carwyn Jones
Welsh Government action to drive growth in the economy is working, First Minister Carwyn Jones said today as new research is published showing tens of thousands of new jobs will be created in the construction industry in Wales over the next five years.
The First Minister welcomed new research by the CITB – the national training organisation for construction in the UK – that shows that nearly 18,000 new construction jobs are expected to be created in Wales over the next five years. The Welsh construction sector is set to grow 3.4% annually between now and 2018, outstripping all bar one region in England.
The First Minister said this proved the Welsh Government’s determination to build Wales out of the recession by investing in infrastructure, supporting Welsh businesses and selling Wales to the world was having a real impact.
The Welsh Government’s Final Budget published in December provided new investment totalling £657.5m to support Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan priorities including transport, housing and flood defences.
This includes nearly £175m for Help to Buy Cymru which will support the development of 5,000 new homes and create a total investment of over £800m; a £200m boost for our school building programme – creating or supporting 23,000 jobs; and investment in transport networks across Wales, including £40m for dualling the A465 between Gilwern and Brynmawr, £40m for improvements to the M4 Brynglas Tunnels and £17m for improvements to the A55 in North Wales.
The First Minister said:
“Building Wales out of the worst economic recession seen for generations has been and continues to be this government’s top priority. Our actions are clearly working – with the construction industry in Wales now outperforming the rest of the UK.
“In addition to providing a substantial boost to the construction sector, I am determined to ensure the economic recovery in Wales benefits the many, not the few. Our innovative community benefits approach to public procurement is paying huge dividends, with local businesses and local people benefiting hugely from our determination to ensure every Welsh pound available directly benefits Welsh people, Welsh business and Welsh communities.”
