The Economic Inclusion Baseline Report (pdf, 2.25mb) provides regional analysis of key issues relating to worklessness, unemployment and economic inclusion in the West Midlands.
This report is the first comprehensive review of these key issues at regional level. The analysis enables consideration of the scale and distribution of the worklessness problem within the West Midlands.
The report examines long and medium term trends, and assesses the reasons behind the region's persistent worklessness problem.
Published 27th March 2009
Download full report (pdf, 2.25mb)
Download executive summary (pdf, 1.13mb)
Key findings
A large scale problem of 'hidden' unemployment has developed
Almost a quarter of a million people in the West Midlands are claiming incapacity benefits, compared with much smaller numbers claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and therefore actively seeking work and counted as unemployed.
Mental health emerges as a major barrier to employment
58% of those in the West Midlands with a mental health problem are workless. 40% of Incapacity Benefit claimants are claiming because of a mental health problem.
Disengagement of young people emerges as a problem
1 in 3 claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance in the West Midlands are aged 18–24.
We have published a series of economic inclusion spotlight reports examining some of these key issues in more detail.
Economic inclusion indicators
There's a series of indicators (pdf, 266kb) measuring economic inclusion in the West Midlands published alongside the baseline report. These indicators were developed through the economic inclusion data group.
The indicators cover issues such as worklessness amongst key demographic groups, poverty, deprivation, skills, health, benefit claimants and earnings. They allow comparison of the West Midlands to other English regions, as well between local authorities within the region.
The indicators were published 11th March 2009.
Download indicators poster (pdf, 266kb)