Jobs market recovering with fewer out of work in West Midlands

The Office for National Statistics said the number of UK workers on payrolls rose by 108,000 between December and January to 29.5 million.

The unemployment rate also reduced by 0.2 percentage points to 4.1 per cent over the three months to December. There were 1.37 million out of work.

Meanwhile, total pay growth rose to 4.3 per cent for the quarter to December – from 4.2 per cent for the three months to November – but continued to lag behind inflation, which soared to a near 30-year high of 5.4 per cent in December.

The unemployment rate for the West Midlands for the three months to December was 147,000 – a rate of 4.9 per cent of the working population and down 40,000 on a year before. The number in employment was 2.82 million – up 71,000 on the year.

Numbers claiming unemployment benefits, including Universal Credit, fell across the West Midlands in January by 3,115 from December to 197,850 – 5.4 per cent of the working population.

In the Black Country, Wolverhampton had the highest rate of eight per cent with 270 fewer claimants at 13,075.

Sandwell was down 265 to 14,880 (7.3 per dent) and Walsall fell by 200 to 11,165 (6.4 per cent). Dudley had a drop of 95 to 10,530 (5.4 per cent).

In Staffordshire the numbers claiming were down 250 to 16,785 (3.1 per cent). South Staffordshire saw a drop of 70 to 2,085 (3.1 per cent) with Cannock Chase down 65 to 2,255 (3.5 per cent), Stafford falling 60 to 2,310 (2.8 per cent) and Lichfield having 40 fewer claiming at 1,730 (2.8 per cent).

Wyre Forest, which includes Kidderminster, had 10 fewer claimants at 2,220 (3.8 per cent).

In the Black Country, Jobcentre Plus is to step up the Government's Way to Work campaign to more effectively match Jobseekers with employers.

Spokeswoman Samantha McLean, based at West Bromwich, said the recently opened temporary Jobcentres in the area would enable them to work with more people seeking work to ensure good quality referrals were made as vacancies became available.

"That is the main way we help to build up the economy," he added.

A lot of new vacancies in the area are currently coming on stream in education, construction and security.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: “Our £400 billion economic plan has protected our jobs market through the pandemic and it is now healthier than most could have hoped for.

“Payrolled employee numbers are at a record high and redundancies are at an all-time low thanks to our plan for jobs.

“We’re continuing to help more people into work and are providing support for the cost of living worth over £20bn across this financial year and next.”