New jobs provide boost ahead of employment data [South Wales Evening Post (Wales)]

(South Wales Evening Post (Wales) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) THE latest snapshot of employment across South West Wales will be released tomorrow. The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's allowance in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire fell from November to December last year.

Tomorrow the Official for National Statistics (ONS) will reveal how the claimant count fared from December to January.

The news comes as communications giant Virgin Media announced it is planning to create 230 jobs in Swansea at its centre of excellence at Matrix Court which was launched in July 2012 and is already home to around 900 customer service and technical support employees.

The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's allowance in Swansea fell from 5,012 in November to 4,800 in December.

Neath Port Talbot also enjoyed a similar drop with the number of people out of work and claiming falling from 3,076 in November to 2,985 in December.

In Carmarthenshire the claimant count fell from 3,624 in November to 3,467 in December.

News of the fall in the county also comes as Hydro Industries near Llanelli has announced it is intending to create 100 jobs over the next three years thanks to a deal signed in the presence of First Minister Carwyn Jones during a Welsh Government-backed trade mission to San Francisco.

Hydro is a hi-tech company specialising in the design, manufacture and operation of electro-based water treatment products.

It has signed a joint venture with T&T Salvage -- one of the world's largest and most successful salvage companies.

Wayne Preece, chief executive officer of Hydro Industries, said: "During the next three years, this project will create high-quality job opportunities for an estimated 100 people, not only within Wales but for Welsh people who have an ambition to work outside the UK in exciting and diverse locations." The South Wales Evening Post is also holding its own Jobs Fair in March at Swansea's National Waterfront Museum.

More than 20 companies have already signed up to hold a stand at the event on Wednesday, March 27.

It will run from 10am to 5pm and is free to attend.

A spokesman said: "Our event will be, for our exhibitors, about finding the right person for the right job or course." SUPERMARKET giant Morrisons has made inroads into the convenience market by snapping up 49 Blockbuster stores from administrators Deloitte.

The location of the stores on the Morrisons shopping list have yet to be confirmed but the deal gives Morrisons access to a significant number of high street and neighbourhood areas across the country. Gordon Mowat, managing director of Morrisons Convenience, said: "The convenience market is growing as more people shop locally and we want to be in a position to take advantage of this." Blockbuster stores in Morriston and Clydach have closed after the chain went into administration.

Its outlets in Fforestfach and Neath have also been earmarked for closure although a date is yet to be set. Morrisons has confirmed its convenience stores will focus on fresh food.

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