Economic inclusion research

Our economic inclusion research programme explores issues surrounding inclusion and worklessness in the West Midlands. It includes research into unemployment, deprivation, barriers to work, poverty, health and benefit claimants, as well as looking at the demographic groups and communities that are most excluded.

For more information on the background to this research programme, see our economic inclusion research team page.

Cover of Worklessness in the West Midlands report

Worklessness in the West Midlands: the impact of demographics and multiple risk factors

Published 7th June 2010

Research exploring the impact of demographics and multiple risk factors in determining an individual's chances of being workless. We looked at the impact of some of these risk factors—alone and in combination with each other—on the probability of worklessness in the West Midlands and England.

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Cover of report: Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of worklessness interventionsMeasuring the cost-​effectiveness of worklessness interventions

Published 10th August 2010

A review of the literature on evaluating the cost-​effectiveness of worklessness interventions. The aim of the review was to recommend a preferred approach for carrying out this type of evaluation that could be used across the West Midlands. The paper sets out the preferred approach and things to consider at each stage of an evaluation into the cost-​effectiveness of a worklessness programme.

Download full report (pdf, 464kb)
Accompanying resources and data available in xls, 190kb or Google Spreadsheets

 

Overview of regional issues

Economic inclusion annual report 2010Economic inclusion annual report 2010 (pdf, 929kb)

Published 29th June 2010

An update to our baseline report identifying how worklessness issues in the West Midlands have changed, and to what extent long-​​term issues identified in the baseline report remain.

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Economic inclusion baseline reportEconomic inclusion baseline report

Published 27th March 2009

A comprehensive overview of economic inclusion and worklessness in the West Midlands.

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Download executive summary (pdf, 1.09mb)

 

Economic inclusion indicators

Published 11th March 2009

A series of indicators measuring the region's performance against a range of measures relating to economic inclusion. The indicators have been developed through the economic inclusion data group.

Download economic inclusion indicators poster (pdf, 265kb)

 

Spotlight reports

A number of key issues were identified in the Baseline Report that have subsequently been examined in more detail in a series of spotlight reports. These examine the regional position alongside the policy context for each issue.

Cover of report on employment and black and minority ethnic groupsSpotlight on black and minority ethnic groups

Published 17th February 2010

There is a large gap between the employment rates of the white population and the black and minority ethnic population and this gap is bigger in the West Midlands than nationally.

This briefing paper explores the nature of this gap and other issues around the labour market position of black and minority ethnic groups.

Download briefing paper on employment and black and minority ethnic groups in the West Midlands (pdf, 761kb) 

 

 

Youth unemployment report coverSpotlight on youth unemployment

Published 10th July 2009

Large numbers of young people are out of work in the West Midlands and the numbers are rising. We produced a briefing paper on the key issues relating to youth unemployment, including the long term consequences and barriers to work facing young people.

Download briefing paper on youth unemployment (pdf, 237kb)

 

 

 

 

Cover of mental health and emplyment briefing paperSpotlight on mental health and employment in the West Midlands

Published 14th September 2009

Mental health is a significant issue in the West Midlands and is a major contributor to the region's high levels of worklessness. This briefing paper provides information and statistics on the links between mental health problems and employment issues within the West Midlands, as well as reviewing recent research and policy options aimed at overcoming employment barriers.

Download briefing paper on mental health and employment in the West Midlands (pdf, 639kb)

 

 

Spotlight on older people and economic inclusion

Published 17th September 2009

This briefing paper examines the issues around economic inclusion and older people in the West Midlands. It includes sections on demographic change in the region, employment of older people and how this has changed in the recession, and poverty amongst older people.

Download briefing paper on economic inclusion and older people

 

 

Research into causes, dynamics and experiences of worklessness 

Dynamics of worklessness (pdf, 468kb)Dynamics of worklessness

Published 7th April 2010

This research aims to understand to what extent individuals are moving in and out of the labour market, entering work for short but unsustained periods, and/​or making repeated benefit claims.

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Employers' experiences of employing workless people (pdf, 444kb)Employers' experiences of employing workless people

Published 5th June 2009

This aim of this literature review was to look at how employers are engaging with people who have been workless and learn from areas of good practice. The review includes a number of case studies of employment programmes where employers are engaging with workless people and summarises the key features of these programmes.

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Download literature review (pdf, 444kb)

 

 

Causes and dynamics of worklessness (PDF, 1.1mb)Causes and dynamics of worklessness

Published 10th February 2009

A study of available literature on the causes and dynamics of worklessessness. This report examines existing analysis of causes and dynamics, and seeks to identify any gaps in knowledge.

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Download literature review (pdf, 1.1mb)

 

 

 

Recession monitoring and unemployment data

In addition to long-​term problems of worklessness, the West Midlands faced rapid increases in unemployment during the recession.

Screenshot of interactive map of Jobseeker's Allowance claimant rates

We analyse the latest employment and unemployment data for the West Midlands every month. We also produce an interactive map showing how the picture of unemployment is changing within the region.

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Impact of the recession on the population of the West Midlands

Published December 2009

This latest monitoring report (pdf, 1.19mb) provides detailed analysis of the latest available data on employment, unemployment and claimants of Jobseeeker's Allowance. These are analysed according to age, ethnicity, gender, disability and skills, to show where the impact of the recession is greatest.

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