Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Adam Price AM, has reacted to today's rise in Welsh unemployment by claiming that the Labour Welsh Government's failure to create enough high-skilled, well-paid job "makes a mockery" of their pledge to deliver 'Prosperity for All'.

The unemployment rate in Wales is now five per cent - up 0.9 per cent on the previous quarter and of the highest rates for any nation or region of the UK.

Responding to the figures, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Assembly Member, Mr Price, said: "These figures highlight Labour's failure to create enough high-skilled, well-paid jobs in Wales and make a mockery of their pledge to deliver 'Prosperity for All'.

"This is a worrying new trend in Wales.

"Just six months ago the unemployment rate here was 4 per cent, but it has been creeping up ever since and has now overtaken the UK average.

"There is immediate action that the Labour Welsh Government could and should be taking to tackle this problem.

"As well as spreading investment to all parts of the country in order to boost local economies and generate jobs, the government should be revising its procurement policy.

"Research shows that for every one per cent increase in Welsh procurement, up to 2,000 jobs will be created.

"We urgently need the Labour government to inject some ambition and imagination into its currently failing economic plan."