Our economic inclusion research programme explores issues surrounding inclusion and worklessness in the West Midlands. We carry out 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.
Our research includes:
Worklessness in the West Midlands: the impact of demographics and multiple risk factors
Published 7 June 2010
We examined 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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Read the full report (pdf, 545kb)
Measuring the cost-effectiveness of worklessness interventions
Published 10 August 2010
A review of the literature on evaluating 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.
Read the full report (pdf, 464kb)
Accompanying resources and data available in xls, 190kb or Google Spreadsheets
Overview of West Midlands issues
Economic inclusion annual report 2010
Published 29 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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Read the full report (pdf, 929kb)
Economic inclusion baseline report
Published 27 March 2009
A comprehensive overview of economic inclusion and worklessness in the West Midlands.
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Read the full report (pdf, 2.16mb)
Read the executive summary (pdf, 1.09mb)
Economic inclusion indicators
Published 11 March 2009
A series of indicators measuring the West Midlands' performance against a range of measures related to economic inclusion. The indicators were developed through the economic inclusion data group.
Download economic inclusion indicators poster (pdf, 265kb)
Spotlight reports
Our spotlight reports provide more detailed examination of several key issues identified in the baseline report. These examine the West Midlands' position alongside the policy context for each issue.
Spotlight on black and minority ethnic groups
Published 17 February 2010
There's a large gap between employment rates of the white population and the black and minority ethnic population. This gap is bigger in the West Midlands than nationally.
Our briefing paper explores the nature of this gap and other issues around the labour market position of black and minority ethnic groups.
Read briefing paper on employment and black and minority ethnic groups in the West Midlands (pdf, 761kb)
Spotlight on youth unemployment
Published 10 July 2009
Large numbers of young people are out of work and the numbers are rising. We produced a briefing paper on key issues of youth unemployment, including the long-term consequences and barriers to work facing young people.
Read briefing paper on youth unemployment (pdf, 237kb)
Spotlight on mental health and employment in the West Midlands
Published 14 September 2009
Mental health is a significant issue in the West Midlands and a major contributor to high levels of worklessness. Our briefing paper provides information and statistics on the links between mental health problems and employment issues. We also review recent research and policy options aimed at overcoming employment barriers.
Read briefing paper on mental health and employment in the West Midlands (pdf, 639kb)
Spotlight on older people and economic inclusion
Published 17 September 2009
We examined issues around economic inclusion and older people in the West Midlands. The paper has sections on demographic change, employment of older people and how this has changed in the recession, and poverty amongst older people.
Read briefing paper on economic inclusion and older people (pdf, 653kb)
Research into causes, dynamics and experiences of worklessness
Dynamics of worklessness
Published 7 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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Read dynamics of worklessness (pdf, 0.9mb)
Employers' experiences of employing workless people
Published 5 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. Our review includes several case studies of employment programmes where employers are engaging with workless people and summarises key features of these programmes.
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Read literature review (pdf, 444kb)
Causes and dynamics of worklessness
Published 10 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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Read literature review (pdf, 1.1mb)
Employment and unemployment data
We analyse the latest employment and unemployment data for the West Midlands every month, alongside an interactive map showing how the picture of unemployment is changing.
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Impact of the recession on the population of the West Midlands
Published December 2009
Our 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.
Economic inclusion annual report 2010
Published 29 June 2010
Economic inclusion annual report 2010 - full report (pdf, 929kb)
Economic inclusion annual report 2010 - charts (ppt, 4.9mb)
Economic inclusion annual report 2010 - charts (zip, 1.34mb, contains each chart as png)
Economic inclusion baseline report
Published 27 March 2009
A comprehensive overview of economic inclusion and worklessness in the West Midlands:
Economic inclusion baseline report (pdf, 2.2mb)
Economic inclusion baseline report (executive summary) (pdf, 1.09mb)
Published 11 March 2009
Economic inclusion indicators poster (pdf, 260kb)
Economic inclusion spotlight reports
Published 17 February 2010
Briefing paper on employment and black and minority ethnic groups in the West Midlands (pdf, 761kb)
Published 17 September 2009
Briefing paper on economic inclusion and older people (pdf, 653kb)
Published 14 September 2009
Briefing paper on mental health and employment in the West Midlands (pdf, 639kb)
Published 10 July 2009
Briefing paper on youth unemployment (pdf, 237kb)
Recession monitoring reports
Published December 2009
Impact of the recession on the population of the West Midlands report November 2009 (pdf, 1.19mb)
Published 6 August 2009
Impact of the recession on the population of the West Midlands report July 2009 (pdf, 868kb)
Published 17 April 2009
Impact of the recession on the population of the West Midlands report April 2009 (pdf, 1.01mb)
Other research projects
Published 10 August 2010
Measuring the cost-effectiveness of worklessness interventions (pdf, 464kb)
Accompanying resources and data available in xls, 190kb or Google Spreadsheets
Published 7 June 2010
Worklessness in the West Midlands: the impact of demographics and multiple risk factors - full report (pdf, 545kb)
Worklessness in the West Midlands: the impact of demographics and multiple risk factors - executive summary (pdf, 326kb)
Published 7 April 2010
Dynamics of worklessness (pdf, 468kb)
Published June 2009
Employers' experiences of employing workless people – literature review (pdf, 444kb)
Published 10 February 2009
Causes and dynamics of worklessness literature review - full report (pdf, 1.1mb)
Causes and dynamics of worklessness literature review - key messages (pdf, 131kb)