Region ‘needs renaissance’ to prevent worst jobs crisis in UK Warning as West Midlands faces chronic and rising unemployment

THE West Midlands is on course to become Britain’s biggest unemployment blackspot, according to a national think tank.

The independent Resolution Foundation is now calling on the region’s leaders as well as candidates bidding to become the first elected mayor to make jobs and employment their policy priority.

In its report, the foundation said the poor performance on jobs and low pay was reflected in the region’s strong vote to leave the EU, particularly in Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley.

The West Midlands employment rate stands at 64 per cent, the lowest of any major UK city region. In Birmingham the rate is a lowly 60.9 per cent, while Solihull, at 72.7 per cent, is the only part of the West Midlands with has above average employment rate.

And the foundation has revealed three groups in particular were struggling to find work – young people, black and minority ethnic populations and low-qualified workers. Barely half of 16-29 yearolds, 51 per cent, are in work.

Conor D’Arcy, policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The West Midlands’ terrible record on job creation has created a huge employment blackspot and was a key factor behind its overwhelming vote to leave the EU.

It’s high time Birmingham and the Black Country are brought out of the shadows and made the focus of a national renaissance

“Turning the city region’s economic prospects around will be a huge task facing the new mayor, and they should have the full backing of central government too.

“Whitehall should recalibrate its flagship ‘Midlands Engine’ project to supporting the new mayor in overseeing a long overdue jobs boom across the West Midlands.

“This approach will be particularly important for those struggling to find work, such as young people, those with poor qualifications and the region’s large black and ethnic minority population. A jobs-rich recovery would also ensure that the whole region benefits from rising living standards.

“Its strong record on getting young people into university shows that there is plenty of potential for the new mayor to harness.”

He added: “For years the West Midlands has been ignored as pre- vious governments have focused on making London the financial capital of the world and Manchester a Northern Powerhouse.

“It’s high time Birmingham and the Black Country are brought out of the shadows and made the focus of a national renaissance for Britain’s major cities.”

The Foundation called for a ‘jobs rich’ industrial strategy for the region to capitalise on the strong manufacturing base as well as financial services sector.

It suggested more must be done to tap into the student population and improve graduate retention rates by offering knowledge-based jobs.

Investment in skills for young people and those with low qualifications should also be priorities.

Resolution Foundation