Employment figures show mixed picture for Black Country region
10 Jun 2025
Published in: Black Country Chamber of Commerce News
The Black Country Chamber of Commerce has responded to the latest labour market figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), highlighting a mixed picture for the region.
While the data reveals that unemployment in the wider West Midlands region has increased by 0.7 per cent, with employment declining by 1.8 per cent during the February to April period, the Black Country itself has seen a drop in claimants by 315, bringing the total to 49,070 down from 49,385.
A closer look at the figures across the region shows varied improvements. Dudley has 85 fewer claimants at 9,810, while Sandwell saw a slight drop from 15,905 to 15,875. Walsall and Wolverhampton showed similar patterns with approximately 100 fewer claimants in each borough.
However, the Chamber has cautioned that these figures may not yet show the full impact of recent economic changes across the Black Country.
Sarah Moorhouse, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said: "The modest decrease in claimant numbers across our region offers some encouragement, but we must be cautious about interpreting this as a sign of sustainable economic improvement.
"Our members are demonstrating remarkable resilience in challenging conditions, but we are still really concerned about the cumulative impact of increasing costs of doing business, rising energy prices, and ongoing uncertainty around tariffs and trade deals. These factors could significantly affect employment figures in the coming months.
"What the national picture shows with the broader West Midlands data is that our region faces distinct challenges. The government must recognise these regional variations in the Comprehensive Spending Review."
Sarah said businesses across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton need targeted support to maintain their current workforce and create new opportunities.
"We need investment in skills development and infrastructure that addresses the specific needs of Black Country businesses, particularly in our key manufacturing and engineering sectors which form the backbone of our regional economy," Sarah added.
"Black Country businesses have shown their adaptability time and again, but they need a stable policy environment and meaningful support to maintain employment levels and drive future growth."
The Comprehensive Spending Review will set departmental budgets and could significantly impact funding for local skills programmes, infrastructure projects and business support initiatives across the Black Country.
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