The Economic Inclusion Baseline Report identified a number of key issues relating to worklessness and economic inclusion in the West Midlands. We're working on a series of 'spotlight' reports to examine these key issues in more detail.
Reports published so far:
Employment and black and minority ethnic groups
Published 17th February 2010
There is a large gap between the employment rates of the white population and the black and minority ethnic (BME) population. This gap is bigger in the West Midlands than nationally.
Our briefing paper (pdf, 761kb) explores the nature of this gap and other issues around the labour market position of black and minority ethnic groups.
Download briefing paper on employment and black and minority ethnic groups (pdf, 761kb)
Key findings
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The employment gap between white people and people from ethnic minority groups is larger in the West Midlands than nationally. 74% of working age white people are in employment in the region (compared to 76% nationally), while 54% of working age BME people are in employment (compared to 60% nationally).
- 16% of the working age population are from a black or minority ethnic group. However, 12% of those in employment are BME and 8% of managers or senior officials are BME.
- There are considerable differences between the employment, unemployment and inactivity rates of different BME groups and between males and females from each group.
- The biggest gaps in the employment rates between the West Midlands and England are amongst the Pakistani/Bangladeshi ethnic group. Employment rates for Pakistani/Bangladeshi males and females are more than 6 percentage points lower in the West Midlands than across England.
- Employment rates for black males in the region are also 6 percentage lower than nationally.
Youth unemployment
Published 10th July 2009
Large numbers of young people are out of work in the West Midlands and the numbers are rising.
We produced a briefing paper (PDF, 237kb) on the key issues relating to youth unemployment including the long-term consequences and barriers to work facing young people.
Download briefing paper on youth unemployment (PDF, 237kb)
Key findings
- There can be long-lasting consequences for those young people finding it difficult to gain employment. Research estimates that unemployment in youth results in a 'wage scar' by age 42 of between 10 and 15%.
- Young people can face many barriers to employment from a lack of work experience and skills to difficulty accessing jobs where they don't have personal transport. Many young people who are out of work also have multiple disadvantages.
Economic inclusion and older people
Published 17th September 2009
This briefing paper (PDF, 653kb) examines the issues around economic inclusion and older people in the West Midlands. It includes sections on demographic change in the region, employment of older people and how this has changed in the recession, and poverty amongst older people.
Download briefing paper on economic inclusion and older people (PDF, 653kb)
Key findings
- Over the last 15 years the employment rate of people aged over 50 has been rising and is now similar to the rate for those of all working age.
- Older people have been less affected by the recession so far, with smaller falls in employment and fewer redundancies than amongst some younger age groups.
- Retirement remains a steady economic state even during a recession. Less than 1% of those who were retired a year ago have since moved into employment or unemployment.
- There has been a substantial reduction in the number of pensioners living in poverty over the last 10 years. However, some groups of pensioners, particularly some minority ethnic groups, are much more likely to be living in poverty than others.
Mental health and employment
Published 14th September 2009
Mental health is a significant issue in the West Midlands and is a major contributor to the region's high levels of worklessness.
This briefing paper (PDF, 639kb) provides information and statistics on the links between mental health problems and employment issues within the West Midlands, as well as reviewing recent research and policy options aimed at overcoming employment barriers.
Download briefing paper on mental health and employment (PDF, 639kb)
Key findings
- Mental health problems are increasingly widespread, with 1 in 4 people affected by some form of mental health problem during their lives, and 1 in 6 suffering diagnosable problems at any given time.
- Among those experiencing mental health problems in the West Midlands only 29% are in employment, compared to 61% of those with any health problem, and 72% for the general population.
- Around 96,000 people in the West Midlands are claiming sickness benefits due to a mental health problem. This is the most common reason for claiming.
- Unemployment is acknowledged to have a negative effect on mental health, so the recession and rising unemployment places many more people at risk of mental ill-health.
- People with mental health problems face more stigma and discrimination than do people with physical health problems, with employers reluctant to employ them.