Better news for West Midlands as unemployment eases
THE West Midlands has seen a welcome fall in its unemployment total – although the region’s rate remains well above the UK average.
For the June to August quarter the region’s total stood at 254,000, with a rate of 9.4%. The figure was down 14,000 (0.4%) on the March to May quarter, although it remained 21,000 (0.8%) up on the same quarter last year.
Nationally, there are 2.49m unemployed – a rate of 7.7%. The figure was down 18,000 (0.1%) on the March to May quarter.
Business leaders in the West Midlands expressed cautious optimism at the figures, even though the region still has the second highest unemployment rate in the UK after the North East. They said the figure was being helped by new recruitment by the region’s manufacturers.
Steve Brittan, president of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group, said: “We welcome the mild drop, which bears out what the chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) reported. The number of manufacturing firms looking to recruit has increased to 50%, up from 45% last quarter.
“Export growth in the region is rising rapidly and the economy is showing signs of stability, but there is still a fundamental disconnect between skills and what businesses need in the region, especially in urban areas.”
He said the chamber remained supportive of initiatives designed to bridge the gap between employers and education, such as the Skills Show at the NEC, which takes place between November 14 and 16.
The chamber is also urging local government to look at how a more effective transport network, including HS2, might help to help improve job opportunities, he added.
