The West Midlands region saw the largest increase in job creation of any region in the UK over the last three months, according to figures released today. Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed 65,000 workforce jobs were created in the region between December and March.
However, the statistics also presented slight cause for concern as unemployment rose by 0.2 per cent between March and May.
The employment rate remained unchanged at 71.8 per cent, while inactivity fell by 0.2 per cent.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “The news on the number of jobs created in the West Midlands earlier in the year is a great testament to our region’s renaissance and position as a top quality place to start, grow and move a business.
“However, the more recent statistics show a slight rise in unemployment. This is a concern and further evidence of the need to ensure that people living in the West Midlands are skilled and able to move in to the jobs being created.
“The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s most recent Quarterly Business Report (QBR) showed that half of employers in Greater Birmingham had attempted to recruit in the last three months.
“This represents a vast number of jobs and is a real opportunity for the region. We will be examining this and other key QBR trends at our launch event on the 18 July, focusing on investment in Greater Birmingham.”