Unemployment figures show ‘vulnerability’ of East Midlands

The number of people in work across the East Midlands rose in the three months to the end of April compared to the previous quarter, according to latest figures

Office for National Statistics data showed there were 2,343,049 in work, 31,713 more than during the three months to the end of January.

Over the same periods, the number of people recorded as unemployed fell by 8,421 to 105,124, giving an unemployment rate of 4.3% – a 0.4 percentage point improvement.

Scott Knowles, chief executive at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Once again the figures underline the robustness of the region. They show that despite all the doubt and uncertainty over Brexit and the continuing upheaval in Parliament, businesses in the East Midlands continue to do what they do best – create jobs and wealth.

“Although there have been blips over the past year, the overall trend continues to show increasing employment and falling unemployment.”

However, the unemployment figures show the East Midlands’ economic “vulnerability”, says the CBI.

Richard Blackmore, CBI East Midlands regional director, said: “The news that employment is up and economic inactivity is down shows some vulnerability affecting the economy of our region.

“While giving those workers that are set to lose their jobs every help they need to upskill, retrain, and find new opportunities must be the immediate priority, we need to think about the issue in the longer term.

“With huge changes to the way we work coming at a time of heightened economic uncertainty, making our workforce as agile and highly skilled as possible is a key way to make it more resilient and fit for the future.”