Unemployment rate in Wales drops to 6.4%

The rate of unemployment has generally fallen in Wales since January when it was 7%

The unemployment rate in Wales has fallen to 6.4% - down slightly from last month's figure of 6.7%.

There are now also 10,000 more people in employment compared to the same period last year.

The overall rate of unemployment in the UK was 5.5% - the same as last month.

The Welsh government said it was a sign of confidence in the private sector, while UK ministers said it pointed to a healthy economic recovery in Wales.

ANALYSIS from Brian Meechan, BBC Wales business correspondent

These figures are significant because for the last year the number of people employed in Wales has been below what it was 12 months before.

For example, the statistics released in January 2015 showed we had 43,000 fewer people with jobs than the year before.

Wales has been the only part of the UK showing that trend.

We're now employing 10,000 more people in Wales than we were this time last year.

That brings us back into line with what's happening across the UK and is a positive sign for the economy.

However, the overall unemployment rate is 6.4%, which is down on last month.

That's still higher than the UK rate of 5.5% though.