Chamber comments on fall in East Midlands unemployment

Unemployment among over 16s in the East Midlands has fallen from 5.2% to 4.8% in a second consecutive drop for the region, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics.

The news was welcomed by East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore, who said: “It is encouraging to see unemployment continue to fall in the East Midlands.  4.8% is an improvement but still above the level of this time last year.

“The number of vacancies across the country has again reduced, but to make sure roles are filled, the government needs to address skills reform, a key ask in our Manifesto for Growth.

"The findings of the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey found more than half of respondents in the East Midlands had tried to recruit in the second quarter of this year, but nearly seven in ten said they’d had difficulty finding the right level of skills and experience, as well as finding the right volume of candidates to optimise opportunities for growth.”