Recession monitoring

These are difficult times for the West Midlands. The recession had a major impact on people and businesses.

The Observatory has been involved in a range of analysis of current conditions and trends to inform partners in their response.

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 11th August 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 West Midlands. Other examples include fewer job vacancies, falling earnings and the sluggish housing market.

But which places in the West Midlands will be particularly vulnerable to the effects of the recession?

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.

• More on places vulnerable to the recession »
• View maps and accompanying commentary (ppt, 2.75mb)
• Download the dataset (xls, 310kb)

Impact on the West Midlands economy

We support partners with data across key sectors, providing monthly briefings on emerging economic conditions.

• More on the impact on the West  Midlands economy »
• Latest economic update report (July 2010) (pdf, 481kb)

Impact on the West Midlands' population

In 2009, our economic inclusion team produced quarterly updates on the impact of the recession on the population of the West Midlands. These reports focused on key demographic groups and spatial changes in employment in the region. 

• More on the impact on the region's population »
• Final update report (November 2009) (pdf, 1.19mb)

Impact on skills and the labour market

In 2009, we published quarterly briefings examining how the economic climate affected the West Midlands in terms of skills and the labour market as a whole.

• More on the impact on skills and the labour market »
• Final update report (December 2009) (pdf, 232kb)

Impact on the cultural sector

The Cultural Observatory co-​​ordinates research into how the recesssion is affecting the cultural sector in the West Midlands. They produced quarterly economic snapshots up to the end of 2009.

• More on the impact on the cultural sector »
• Cultural sector economic snapshot (Oct-​Dec 2009) (pdf, 311kb)
• Summary of findings to date (November 2009) (pdf, 205kb)

Impact on the regional economy

West Midlands monthly economic update report (July 2010) (pdf, 482kb)

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 (July 2010) (xls, 220kb)
Youth claimant rates by Local Authority and region (June 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)