Skills key to solving worst job figures in the country

BUSINESS leaders in the West Midlands this week called on the region to urgently address its skills gap following the release of disappointing job figures.

The highest unemployment rate in the UK was in the West Midlands (5.5 per cent) for the three months ending November 2017, while the national figure remained at 4.3 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The new figure is only 0.2 per cent up on the previous quarter and is marginally lower than 5.6 per cent of a year ago.

But Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) said much of the problem was caused by the skills gap in the region and called on stakeholders to learn lessons from the North East, where unemployment was slowly decreasing.

Paul Faulkner, the GBCC’s chief executive, said: “These figures need to be a wake-up call for the region. They show one of the region’s greatest strengths: that we are creating record numbers of new jobs in the West Midlands. But they also throw into sharp relief the big challenge: ensuring that local people are skilled for and able to access these jobs.

“Despite plenty of discussion about closing skills gaps, the West Midlands now has the highest unemployment rate in the UK.

“The region’s leaders and stakeholders need to fundamentally shift up a gear in efforts to tackle unemployment. Businesses have a key role to play in ensuring they communicate what skills and qualifications they need.

“The North East unemployment rate has dropped significantly in recent years from the highest in the UK so stakeholders in our region may be able to learn lessons from their experience.

“Nationally, the Government should make it easier for employers to invest in upskilling their staff. In particular by reducing the administrative burden that reformed apprenticeship funding places on small businesses, and to ensure that levy-paying businesses are able to make the best use of the Apprenticeship Levy.

“The GBCC is helping businesses invest in staff development through the GBCC Growth Through People campaign – four weeks of free events with over 40 partner organisations all on leadership and people management.”