Employment Rate

The employment rate in Birmingham for people aged 16-64 was 65.9% in the year ending December 2023, which is lower than the West Midlands average of 75.2%.This represents a slight decrease from 66.3% in the previous year.

Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate in Birmingham was 7.2% in the year ending December 2023, a slight decrease from 7.3% the previous year.This is significantly higher than the West Midlands average of 4.4%.

Economic Inactivity

Around 28.3% of the working age population (16-64) in Birmingham was economically inactive in the year ending December 2023.

Claimant Count

The claimant count in Birmingham was 66,875 in March 2024, up from 61,765 in March 2023. This represents 9.1% of the working age population, an increase from 8.4% the previous year.

Structural Changes in Employment

Birmingham has seen significant structural changes in employment between 1981 and 2005:

• Manufacturing jobs declined by 71.5%

• Finance & professional services jobs increased by 128.5%

• Public sector & caring services jobs increased by 41.2%

• Tourism & leisure jobs increased by 85.5%

Here are two graphs to visualise some of this data:

Employment Rate Comparison (Year ending Dec 2023)

Birmingham | 65.9% ████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░

West Midlands | 75.2% ██████████████████████████████████░░

Unemployment Rate Comparison (Year ending Dec 2023)

Birmingham | 7.2% ███████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░

West Midlands | 4.4% ████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░

Structural Changes in Birmingham Employment (1981-2005) Manufacturing | -71.5% ████████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░