Our annual Regional Skills 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.
This year's Assessment, published 12th February 2010, presents a few distinctive sections compared to previous years. It focuses on recent trends, the impact of recession and prospects for recovery.
Key headlines
- Higher level skills can help boost the region's economy.
- We have assets to die for in our universities and colleges, and we need to make more effective use of them.
- We still have the highest proportion of adults with no formal qualifications in the country.
- Far fewer private sector workers have degrees, compared to the South East and London.
Download Regional Skills Assessment: key headlines and conclusions (pdf, 94kb)
Key issues for regional skills policy
Andy Phillips, Head of Skills Research at the Observatory, summarises the Assessment, and what it means for regional and sub-regional organisations, in this presentation:
Watch Andy’s presentation | Get PowerPoint slides (ppt, 649kb)
What the Skills Assessment means for local organisations and their sub-regions
Here is Andy's presentation on the key issues at sub-regional and local level identified in the Assessment:
Watch Andy’s presentation | Get PowerPoint slides (ppt, 824kb)
Reports
Published 12th February 2010
Sub-regional profiles
The Assessment includes a series of six detailed sub-regional skills profiles assessing recent trends and future prospects for both the demand for and supply of skills in sub-regional areas.
The profiles highlight key issues to support, in particular, development of Local Economic Assessments by local authorities, the commissioning of 16-19 learning provision and the work of sub-regional Employment and Skills Boards.
You'll also find a list of vital statistics, benchmarking regional and local performance, recent trends in employment in key sectors and clusters, future prospects and more detailed analysis of skills issues for disadvantaged groups and communities.
Birmingham and Solihull
Black Country
Coventry and Warwickshire
Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Posters