The West Midlands has once again enjoyed the largest increase in employment of any UK region, according to new figures.
But business leaders have expressed the need to carefully monitor the rate of unemployment, which crept up by 0.1 per cent between February and April.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed a 1.4 per cent increase in employment across the region during the last quarter.
In a further boost, the inactivity rate – which measures the proportion of the population not currently in labour force – fell by 1.5 per cent.
Emily Stubbs (pictured), policy and patron adviser at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “It’s great to see that for the second month running the largest increase in employment rate over the previous quarter was seen in the West Midlands.
“The regional employment rate remains at a record high and we have experienced the largest increase in employment over the last year. These are positive signs of the economic renaissance that has taken hold in the region.”
However, the Chambers are urging caution after statistics revealed unemployment in the West Midlands remains the second highest in the UK, after London.
Emily Stubbs added: “The West Midlands has the second highest unemployment figures in the UK. Over the past year the region has seen the second largest decrease in this rate of any region.
“However, we still have a way to go to push unemployment down in line with the national averages and we did see a very slight rise in regional unemployment this quarter.
“It is important that stakeholders maintain this momentum and ensure local people are skilled and ready to take the jobs being created in the region.
“Our Quarterly Economic Snapshot which explores businesses views across the West Midlands Combined Authority area shows that half of the region’s firms experienced recruitment difficulties last quarter.
“Making sure our region is upskilling local residents for the jobs available to them is a primary concern for businesses.”
