AM wants to stop drain of youth from Wales
Thousands of young people have left mid and west Wales in the last decade, new figures have shown.
Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas led a debate in the Welsh Assembly to address what he sees as a major problem for the region.
He said that over the last decade, the four local authorities in the west – Ynys Mon, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire – had seen 117,000 young people aged 15 to 29 leave either to other parts of Wales or the UK.
Mr Thomas said the trend was 'sapping life from Welsh communities', and urged the Labour Welsh government to use all the tools at its disposal to reverse it.
Speaking in the Senedd chamber, shadow cabinet secretary for rural affairs Mr Thomas said: "New figures published last week lay bare the problem of outward migration from Welsh communities.
“The Labour Government in Wales has presided over a decade of decline which has seen thousands of young people leave their communities – either to other parts of the country or elsewhere in the UK.
“This trend saps life from our communities as young people feel forced to move away to find adequate housing, education or employment.
“Since 2005, a staggering 117,000 young people between 15-29 years old have left their communities in the west – Ynys Mon, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.
'All-Wales problem'
“This age bracket represents 55 per cent of all individuals who have left these local authorities. This problem is not isolated to the west with the same figure for Valleys communities standing at 42%.
“This all-Wales problem requires an all-Wales solution. That is why we’re urging the Labour government to use all the tools at its disposal to reverse this worrying trend.
“These measures should include enhancing digital and transport infrastructure, locating and relocating existing and new national institutions in areas in Wales which require greater job opportunities, and to respond positively to the Diamond Review’s recommendations to incentivise students who study away to return to Wales after graduation.
“If our language, economy and communities are to enjoy a viable and prosperous future, this is a problem which must be addressed without delay.”
Mr Thomas and the political party have suggested ways to try to reverse the trend.
Plaid Cymru is proposing to secure £6 million for a new grant scheme to help young farmers in Wales get on their feet.
Mr Thomas added: "To secure the future of the industry in the teeth of the challenge of Brexit, more young entrants are needed.”
