These are difficult times for our region. The recession had a major impact on our people and our businesses.
In response, the Observatory has been involved in a range of analysis of current conditions and trends to inform the West Midlands Taskforce and other regional partners.
Latest headline data on employment and unemployment
Headline employment and unemployment data are released monthly by the Office for National Statistics. We analyse the data and show the latest position of the West Midlands relative to the other regions in England.
Read more on the latest headline data » (released 17th February 2010)
We've produced an interactive map showing how Jobseeker's Allowance claimant rates are changing within the West Midlands. You can click on a local authority to see the trend over the past year, compare rates with neighbouring areas, and compare to the national trend.
Open the interactive map (requires Adobe Flash Player)
Download the dataset (xls, 220kb)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Labour market statistics, claimant count (not seasonally adjusted)
Places vulnerable to the recession
Increasing unemployment is, of course, one impact of the recession on places in the region. Other examples include fewer job vacancies, falling earnings and the sluggish housing market.
But which places in the region will be particularly vulnerable to the effects of the recession?
We have recently carried out work to identify and map the areas in the region which are likely to be most vulnerable. These results are being used by the Regional Taskforce, alongside a range of other information, to make sure that activities are being targeted in the right places.
Regular recession monitoring reports
As well as the work outlined above, we are involved in a range of regular reporting, focused on four main areas.
Impact on the regional economy
We support the West Midlands Taskforce with data across key sectors, providing monthly briefings on emerging economic conditions.
Impact on the West Midlands' population
Our economic inclusion team produce quarterly updates on the impact of the recession on the population of the West Midlands. These reports focus on key demographic groups and spatial changes in employment in the region.
Impact on skills and the labour market
Our quarterly briefing examines how the current economic climate is affecting the West Midlands in terms of skills and the labour market as a whole.
Impact on the cultural sector
The Cultural Observatory co-ordinates research into how the recesssion is affecting the cultural sector in the West Midlands, producing quarterly economic snapshots.
Impact on the regional economy
West Midlands monthly economic update report February 2010 (pdf, 537kb)
Impact on the population of the West Midlands
Monitoring the impact of the recession on the population of the West Midlands (November 2009) (pdf, 1.19mb)
Impact on skills and labour market
Impact of the recession on skills and labour market (December 2009) (pdf, 232kb)
Impact on the cultural sector
Summary of findings to date (November 2009) (pdf, 311kb)
Impact of the recession on the cultural sector (October-December 2009) (pdf, 311kb)
Latest employment and unemployment data
Jobseeker's Allowance claimant data (January 2010) (xls, 220kb)
Youth claimant rates by Local Authority and region (January 2010) (xls, 33kb)
Vulnerable places
Presentation on places vulnerable to the recession (ppt, 2.75mb)
Dataset for places vulnerable to the recession (xls, 310kb)
Impact on Rural Regeneration Zone
Impact of economic downturn on Rural Regeneration Zone: briefing paper (January 2010) (pdf, 398kb)