Wales has 22 authorities, ranging in size from more than 17,000 employees to the smallest with around 3,000. All Welsh councils have been unitary authorities since re-organisation in 1996.

Wales is a very diverse country, offering many attractions as an area in which to live and work, including some of the most beautiful and varied scenery in the world. Its capital, Cardiff has undergone considerable regeneration and expansion, and is now the fastest growing city in the UK, and one of the most vibrant in Europe.

The South East region is made up of 10 local authority areas, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan. It ranges from the coastal belt to the valleys, from rural areas to Cardiff as well as other towns and cities.

South West Wales has both urban and rural areas, including miles of beautiful coastline and the renowned Pembrokeshire National Park. The region comprises the local authority areas of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Mid Wales is largely rural, and that is the charm of the area. This sparsely-populated wilderness is a land of rolling, green mountains, and isolated, dramatic lakes; a land of mysterious forests and groaning wind farms. Powys and Ceredigion are the two councils.

North Wales covers Anglesey, Conwy, Gwynedd, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham. It is a diverse region which includes the beautiful Snowdonia National Park. The major towns provide an eclectic and fascinating mix of seaside resorts and the most historic, ancient towns in Wales.

For more information about local government in Wales go to www.wlga.gov.uk

For information about careers in Wales go to www.careerswales.com

Select a Council from the list below.