University graduates may be better off staying in Wales, company says

Young people leaving Wales looking for higher pay may actually be better off if they stay, according to a company trying to halt graduate "brain drain".

A founder of Darogan Talent said on average they could have more money if they were in Cardiff than in London because of the cost of living.

A Tory politician said Wales must invest in skills to retain the young.

The Welsh government said it was doing everything it could "to help young people to plan their futures in Wales".

Darogan - which translates as predict or foretell - was established in 2018 with the aim of attracting students who studied outside Wales to return after graduation.

It said that a lack of information about opportunities in Wales has contributed to the loss of young people to other countries.

It is now a chartered company after getting investment from Equal Education Partners, which helps organisations like schools and colleges "address complex challenges".

"I think there are a lot of students interested in coming back," said Owain James, one of the founders.

"There is a lot that pulls them back as a family... language and various other things.

"Although wages may be higher in London... because the cost of living is so much higher you will get more money if you stayed and worked in Cardiff on average."

He said there was an element of tackling widespread lack of information.

Osian Elis, 24, originally from Abergele in Conwy, left to study at Oxford University.

But after graduating, he decided to return to Wales and got a job in the office of the chief executive of Gwynedd's council - Cyngor Gwynedd.

"Throughout my time at university, looking for a job where I could work through the medium of Welsh was something very important to me," he said.

He said there were "pull and push" factors that meant young people left Wales and did not return.

"As for those who are pushing, maybe the two main problems are in the first place there is a lack of high-paying jobs and a lack of a range of diverse jobs.

"And secondly, the housing problem and that there is a lack of affordable rental houses and also a lack of houses for people to be able to buy."

Population growth in Wales is slowing. While it increased by 1.4% in the past 10 years, that was the lowest of any UK country.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics also show that more and more local authorities in Wales have seen people aged 18-29 move away in the last decade.

Samuel Kurtz, Conservative Member of the Senedd for West Carmarthen and South Pembroke, said it was concerning.

"If we look at local authorities like Pembrokeshire and rural areas we need young people to do jobs where the population is ageing," said Mr Kurtz.

"Some people want a chance to leave Wales to get something else and learn something else, and they need to get that support.

"But then there must be something to draw them back to Wales to contribute to life here. We would like to see investment from the Welsh government in an industry that wants to give people here in Wales skills for the future."

The Welsh government said: "We are doing everything we can to help young people to plan their futures in Wales.

"Using the distinctive strengths of local economies, we are working to create better jobs and increase skills to support businesses against an increasingly difficult economic backdrop.

"Later this month, the Economy Minister [Vaughan Gething] will set out how backing young people to achieve the ambitious futures they deserve in Wales is a key priority for the Welsh economy.

"We are also tackling the issue of large numbers of second homes, which can affect communities and their sustainability, by implementing the broadest package on interventions seen in the UK.

"A record level of investment has also been made to support our commitment to deliver 20,000 additional homes for rent in the social sector this government term."