Unemployment falls in the West Midlands

UNEMPLOYMENT in the West Midlands dropped by 7,000 in the period September to November, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

The data from the ONS shows there were 161,000 people classed as unemployed in the region for the three-month period, compared with the June to August quarter. However, the figure is up 3,000 on the same quarter in 2015.

The unemployment rate in the region now stands at 5.6%, well above the UK average of 4.8%.

There was better news on the employment front with the region’s rate standing at 72.4% at the end of November – up 9,000 (0.3%) on the June to August quarter and 1.1% up on the September to November quarter in 2015.

Nationally, the employment rate stands at 74.5%, virtually unchanged on June to August but slightly higher than September to November 2015 (74%).

Also nationally, there were 1.60m people classed as unemployed at the end of November, 52,000 fewer than in June to August and 81,000 down on September to November 2015.

The 4.8% rate has not been lower since the July to September quarter in 2005.

Average weekly earnings increased by 2.8% including bonuses and by 2.7% excluding bonuses compared with a year earlier.

Commenting, Rachel Smith, CBI Principal Labour Market Economist, said: “The high levels of employment our flexible labour market generates remains a mainstay of the UK economy, and will be key to making a success of Brexit.

“However, pay growth is likely to be eroded by increasing inflation during this year, underlining the need for a regionally-focussed industrial strategy that powers the productivity growth that will enable wages to rise more swiftly.”