NEW DATA released has revealed how jobs and businesses are managing to recover post-pandemic in Flintshire and Wrexham.

New research from Iwoca, one of Europe's largest small business lenders, indicates how both areas have coped with recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic which began in 2020.

Many see the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a good indicator of economic activity.

The data, compiled from ONS business and employment figures, demonstrates that Flintshire had 5,300 business in in 2019, which had risen to 5,385 by 2023 - an increase of 85 (1.60%).

The largest of those sectors was the admin and support services with 800 businesses.

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Meanwhile in Wrexham, there were 4,025 businesses listed in 2019 and this fell to 3,985 by 2023 - a loss of 40 (or 0.99%).

Among the most popular businesses were the 550 based in the construction sector.

In terms of employment,  there were 74,700 jobs in Flintshire in 2019. In 2022, this figure was down to 72,475 in 2022, a decrease of 2,225 jobs or -2.98%.

In Wrexham, there were 61,230 jobs in 2019. This had risen to 61,280 by 2022, an increase of 50 or 0.08%.

Wales as a whole saw a 1.19% increase in jobs during the same period.

The national figure rose from 1,327,520 people in employment to 1,343,315 people, an increase of 15, 795 jobs, between 2019 and 2022.

Commenting on the data, Mike Learmond - senior development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses - said: "The new data paints a complex picture of the recovery in Flintshire and Wrexham, highlighting the resilience and adaptability small businesses have to demonstrate as they navigate the on-going recovery from the pandemic and the cost of doing business challenges.

“SMEs play a vital role in the region’s economy accounting for 97.4 per cent of all businesses in both Flintshire and Wrexham as well as 58.1 per cent of all private sector employment in Wrexham and 52.3 per cent in Flintshire.

“The Welsh and UK governments must now prioritise policies that support small businesses to grow, including improving key infrastructure in north Wales, supporting access to a skilled workforce and putting in place supportive tax and employment frameworks.

"When small businesses flourish, they create jobs, drive innovation and spread prosperity across all communities.”