Jobs Growth Wales+ statistics: April to June 2025

This headline presents information on young people enrolled on the Jobs Growth Wales+ (JGW+) programme.

The data in this release covers the first quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year (April to June 2025). Figures are provisional and are likely to be revised in future publications as data is updated. The Jobs Growth Wales (JGW+) programme came into operation for new starts on 1 April 2022.

• During April to June 2025 there were 3,755 active JGW+ programmes, 2,995 of which continued from the previous quarter and 760 of which were new starts. At the end of June 2025, 2,785 programmes were continuing.
• The number of starts in April to June 2025 has increased by 24.9% compared to the same quarter in the previous year (760 compared to 605).
• 965 JGW+ programmes ended during April to June 2025, of which 690 were completed. Of the programmes that ended, 66.8% of leavers had a positive outcome based on their destination within eight weeks of completing the programme.
• The local authority with the highest number of starts in April to June 2025was Cardiff (11.5%), followed by Swansea (10.0%) and Rhondda Cynon Taf (9.8%). The lowest number of starts was in Monmouthshire (0.5%), followed by Ceredigion (0.5%) and Flintshire (0.7%).
• The local authority with the highest number of completed programmes in April to June 2025 was Pembrokeshire (14.3%), followed by Rhondda Cynon Taf (10.3%) and Cardiff (9.9%). The lowest number of completed programmes was in Gwynedd (0.1%), followed by Conwy (0.3%) and Denbighshire (0.6%).
• By the end of June 2025, there had been 16,445 JGW+ programme starts since the programme began in April 2022. 13,660 of those programmes have ended with 9,135 completed.

Figure 1: Destination of Jobs Growth Wales+ leavers, April to June 2025 (provisional)

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Description of Figure 1: This bar chart shows the number of Jobs Growth Wales+ leavers between April to June 2025 by destination after completing the programme. The largest single category is ‘Learning – higher level’ at 270 participants (28.1%). Next largest category is ‘Seeking work or unemployed’ at 265 participants (27.5%). This is followed by and ‘Employed’ at 265 participants (27.2%).

Participant values are rounded to the nearest 5.

All destinations are self-reported by the programme participants within eight weeks of leaving their JGW+ programme.

Source: Lifelong Wales Learning Record (LLWR)

The purpose of the Jobs Growth Wales+ Youth Programme is to deliver consolidated and individualised training, development and employability support to 16 to 19-year olds who are assessed as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) at the time of starting the JGW+ programme.

The JGW+ programme will support delivery of the Welsh Government’s strategic priorities to tackle the consequences and risk factors associated with young people being NEET, which are integral to the Young Persons Guarantee, Stronger, Fairer, Green Wales (the plan for employability and skills), the Programme for Government and to our Well-being Objectives.

The main delivery objectives of the JGW+ programme are to:

• contribute towards a reduction in the number of 16 to 19 year olds who are NEET
• achieve positive outcomes for 16 to 19 year olds at risk of becoming NEET
• progress Well-being of Future Generations objectives by delivering employability support for 16 to 19 year olds that provides equal opportunities (including Welsh language), promotes well-being and fair work, and helps embed environmental approaches that reduce harm

The period from 1 March 2022 to 31 March 2022 was a period of transition for learners previously on the Traineeships programme.

The proportion of Jobs Growth Wales Plus starts and completions by local authorities might be influenced by the population of 16 to 19 year olds in each local authority. For instance, a local authority with a higher population of 16 to 19 year olds is likely to account for a higher proportion of starts and completions.

Positive outcomes are measured on the learner’s destination within eight weeks of leaving their JGW+ programme. For learners on the Engagement and Advancement Strands, a positive outcome is either progression to learning at a higher level, progression into employment (full-time, part-time or self-employment) or progression to an Apprenticeship. For learners on the Employment Strand, a positive outcome is either progression into employment (full-time, part-time (16 or more hours per week) or self-employment) or progression to an Apprenticeship.

For disabled learners, employment of less than 16 hours per week is also classed as a positive outcome.

Voluntary work, further learning at the same or lower level, and employment of less than 16 hours per work are all classed as neutral outcomes. Learners with these outcomes are excluded from the denominator when calculating positive outcome rates.

Seeking work/unemployed and all other outcomes (including where the destination within eight weeks is not known) are classed as negative outcomes.

All destinations are self-reported by the programme participants.

Data is drawn from the August 2025 freeze of the Lifelong Learning Wales Record (LLWR). JGW+ Contractors must submit information to the Welsh Government at least monthly on all young people, their programmes, activities and awards under the JGW+ programme.

All numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. Percentages are calculated on the unrounded numbers.

Statistician: Marcela Beck
Email: LabourMarket.stats@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099