Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Conservative Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz has said that ‘Under Labour, enabled by Plaid Cymru’ - the Welsh economy is ‘broken’. His comments come after the latest Labour market statistics for Wales, covering July 2025, revealed that Wales’ employment rate remains the lowest in Britain, at 71.8%.

Economic inactivity in Wales remains the highest in Britain, at 24.8%.

Welsh Conservatives lay blame at the UK and Welsh Labour Governments at both ends of the M4, who have made life difficult for businesses who have had to cut staffing numbers to deal with the rise in employer National Insurance contributions.

Commenting, Mr Kurtz, who is also the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Energy, said:“Under Labour, enabled by Plaid Cymru, the Welsh economy is broken. It’s clear that only the Welsh Conservatives can be trusted to fix Wales.

“Keir Starmer’s Jobs Tax has hit businesses, forcing many to freeze hiring or reduce staffing numbers. This has been particularly devastating for younger people, who are disproportionately affected by these political decisions.

“Welsh Conservatives want to see a Wales open for business. We would scrap business rates for small businesses, with rate cuts in town centres and Labour and Plaid’s toxic Tourism Tax axed before it comes into force.”

Andrew RT Davies said that the Welsh Government is “failing Wales in one of the most important areas of government” after a fresh set of bleak economic statistics was published.

Former Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Mr Davies said: “It’s clear from these figures that Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay are failing Wales in one of the most important areas of government.

“These aren’t just numbers. When people aren’t in work, it means they struggle to provide for their families and put food on the table for their children. Labour, in Cardiff Bay and in London, have put in place policies that are making it harder for people to make ends meet.

“Unless we can increase employment by helping businesses in Wales to thrive, we will see even greater poverty.

“We also need to protect our communities from foreign multinational companies that undercut our loyal British workforce, by implementing a Back British Bill that gives our businesses and workers priority.”