Welsh workers are leaving for better pay across the border, with some earning up to £6,000 more by commuting just 12 miles to England
Wrexham: It seems like a lot of folks in Wales are packing up and heading to England for work. A council leader recently pointed out that they’re losing staff because the pay is just better across the border.
Mark Pritchard, the leader of Wrexham council, mentioned that social care workers and occupational therapists can earn between £4,000 and £6,000 more by just traveling 12 miles. He said it’s tough to keep staff when they can easily find better pay in places like Chester and Liverpool.
He really emphasized how close they are to England and how that affects their hiring. It’s a real struggle for retention and recruitment when the competition is just a short drive away.
During a recent meeting, they discussed the financial challenges facing councils. While they appreciated the funding from the Welsh Government, they felt it wasn’t enough to avoid cutting services or raising taxes.
Pritchard expressed frustration, saying they’ve already made all the easy cuts. He pointed out that job losses are happening, even if they’re not always visible. They’re not filling vacant positions, which means fewer people are doing the same amount of work.
He also mentioned that while the Welsh Government claims to prioritize councils, the funding just doesn’t match the needs. They’ve put some extra money into social care, but it’s still not sufficient.
Other council leaders echoed his concerns. They’re all feeling the pinch and worried about how to meet the needs of their communities, especially after the challenges posed by Covid.
It’s a tough situation, and many are left wondering how they’ll manage moving forward.
