Our research on the West Midlands economy and labour market includes:
Latest employment and unemployment data
Updated 16 February 2011
We provide analysis, commentary and interactive maps on monthly labour market statistics for the West Midlands, released by the Office for National Statistics.
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Analysis of sub-regional dynamics in the West Midlands
Published 23 March 2010
We carried out a study into the evidence about relationships between places within the West Midlands. The aim was to help us understand lower level geographies within the West Midlands, based on functional relationships.
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Measuring the scale of the challenge
Published 6 July 2010
There's a significant gap between performance of the West Midlands economy and that of the UK as a whole. But how big is that gap? And what are the main things influencing the gap? Our research explores the evidence base for key priority areas, the links between them and where the West Midlands economy is underperforming. We cover skills, enterprise, innovation, economic inclusion, and the low carbon economy.
Read the report » (pdf, 3.55mb)
West Midlands economy post recession
Published 29 June 2010
This research provides insight into existing and likely future skills needs in the West Midlands. It considers the changing needs of the region's economy and labour market as it moves out of recession and helps inform decisions of employers, individuals and skills providers.
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Download full report (pdf, 844kb)
Regional skills assessment 2009
Published 12 February 2010
Our assessment provides an overview of the changing needs of the West Midlands' labour market, with detailed exploration of key issues by sector and by sub-region. It focuses on recent trends, the impact of recession and prospects for recovery.
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Download full report (pdf, 562kb)
West Midlands: fit for the future?
Updated 13 October 2009
This book, published in July 2009, features ten chapters by ten different authors, each giving their personal view on how the West Midlands can best place itself in readiness for the economic recovery. Bill Heslegrave has kindly written an eleventh chapter, on green infrastructure and sustainable recovery (PDF, 929kb), which was published 13 October 2009.
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Places vulnerable to the recession
Increasing unemployment was, of course, one impact of the recession on places in the West Midlands. Other examples included fewer job vacancies, falling earnings and the sluggish housing market. But which places are particularly vulnerable?
We carried out work to identify and map the areas which are likely to be most vulnerable. These results are being used to make sure activities are targeted in the right places.
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West Midlands regional integrated economic assessment
Published 7 October 2008
This project provides an assessment of the performance of the West Midlands' economy and the factors contributing to it. It also assesses the relative position of the different parts of the West Midlands.
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Graduate retention, attraction and employment study 2008
Updated 14 October 2008
We explored issues surrounding the utilisation of graduates in the West Midlands labour market. Specifically, we wish to understand issues affecting the attraction, retention and employment of graduates.
In October 2008, we published University Challenge (pdf, 0.5mb), our review of the West Midlands' knowledge economy and the demand for higher level skills.
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