West Midlands unemployment falls faster than UK average

UNEMPLOYMENT has continued to fall in the West Midlands – ahead of the national average, latest figures have shown.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows unemployment stood at 187,000 for the August to October quarter, a rate of 6.8%. This represents a fall of 14,000 on the May to July period – a decline of 0.5%.

Nationally there were 1.96m out of work for the August to October quarter – down 63,000 (0.2%). This was the smallest fall in the national rate since the July to September quarter last year.

There are now 58,000 fewer people unemployed in the West Midlands than this time last year – equivalent to a fall of 2%.

Greg Lowson, president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said the figures continued the steady downward trend seen in the West Midlands for much of the year.

“There is a renewed sense of optimism going into 2015 and a greater number of chamber businesses are looking to take on staff. However, this is offset by the number of firms facing difficulties when recruiting. In the chamber’s quarterly economy survey for Q3 2014, 68% of manufacturers said they faced challenges recruiting staff.

“In Birmingham, we still have a two-speed economy where we see strong economic growth in the core, but there is a disconnect with areas of the city facing severe deprivation.”

To help tackle this challenge, Birmingham Chamber has published ‘A Handbook for Business Engagement with Schools’, which sets out ways for businesses to help young people get work ready.

In Coventry and Warwickshire the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level in eight years.

In Coventry, the figure dropped from 5,507 to 4,868 between October and November and, in Warwickshire, it fell from 3,862 to 3,566.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said companies across the area were committed to investing in staff despite only recently emerging from recession.

She said: “When you consider the position the economy was in only a couple of years ago and how confidence had been severely dented by the recession, this really is a positive story for Coventry and Warwickshire.

“It’s a testament to companies across the region showing the willingness to invest to grow their businesses which is seeing more jobs created and a much improved economic picture.”