Original by Owen Hughes, North Wales Live - https://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/shocking-hike-jobless-young-people-17093831

There has been a 43% increase in youth unemployment in one county over a year

Parts of North Wales are seeing a shocking hike in youth joblessness.

After years of falling unemployment in Wales the most recent figures have shown a concerning reverse in that trend - with an increase in the number of people without a job over the past 12 months.

This is particularly stark in the 18-24 category with a warning from an AM that it should set "alarm bells ringing".

Conwy saw the worst figures with a 43% hike in the number of jobless young people and a 23% overall increase in unemployment over a year.

There was a 27% rise in youth unemployment in Denbighshire, 20% in Flintshire and 15% in Gwynedd.

Welsh Government Economy minister Ken Skates believes the uncertainty over Brexit is damaging business confidence.

But Aberconwy AM Janet Finch-Saunders believes another key factor could be a skills mismatch - with young people not trained up to fill some of the skilled vacancies she sees in her constituency.

She said: “The increase in unemployment in Conwy should set alarm bells ringing.

“Whilst I am sure that there are a number of contributory factors, that the most worrying change is for our young people speaks volumes.

“Having been in contact with businesses across Aberconwy I am aware that there is a skills shortage.

“Young people are not to blame for this. 

“What I would like to see is public bodies doing more to liaise with the private sector so to help ensure that our local schools and colleges are providing courses which would be of even greater benefit to people hoping to live and work in our area.

“I know of local businesses negatively affected by staff shortages, so I am working to ensure that the Welsh Government takes steps to help young people develop relevant skills through their education."

The number of jobless people in Wales is up 2,302 over 12 months, a four per cent increase. It now stands at 62,661 - 4.2% of the working population.

With the 18-24 age group - where there has been a 13% rise in those claiming Jobseekers Allowance.

Welsh Government minister for Economy and Transport Ken Skates said: “These figures show that the ongoing economic uncertainty caused by Brexit is having a disproportionately damaging impact for Welsh business."

The jobseeker figures for North Wales:

Conwy

18-24: There has been a 43% hike, with jobless numbers going from up 112 to a total of 371.

All ages: A 23% rise, with a 422 increase to a total of 2,288.

Denbighshire

18-24: 27% rise, up 77 to 367.

All ages: 14% rise, up 229 to 1,991.

Flintshire

18-24: 20% rise, up 85 to 200.

All ages: 8% rise, up 209 to 2,690

Gwynedd

18-24: 15% rise, up 40 to 310

All ages: 5% rise, up 85 to 1,830

Anglesey

18-24: 2% rise, up 4 to 197

All ages: 2% rise, up 20 to 1,266

Wrexham

18-24: 6% rise, up 27 to 466

All ages: 4% rise, up 95 to 2,648