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Economy & jobs Statistics · Region

Unemployment rate in West Midlands

1995 – 2023 · 29 data points 3 of 13 · Regions of United Kingdom Updated 22 Oct 2026
Economy & jobs · West Midlands United Kingdom

Source: OECD Regional Database, 1995 – 2023

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Overview 5 figures People 13 figures Economy 11 figures Education 4 figures Climate 1 figure
Latest value · 2023 4.4% −0.2 pp since 2022
Regions of United Kingdom · 2023 3 of 13 Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2013 −4.1 pp
vs United Kingdom +0.5 pp United Kingdom: 3.9% · 2023
Unemployment rate, 1995 – 2023 percent · West Midlands · United Kingdom · World
−4.1 pp since 2013
West Midlands United Kingdom World

Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1995 – 2023

Compared with Unemployment rate · percent
West Midlands
4.4%
United Kingdom
3.9%
World
4.8% · 2025

Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators

The series at a glance West Midlands · 1995 – 2023
Latest value 4.4% · 2023
First value 8.7% · 1995
Highest 9.7% · 2009
Lowest 4.4% · 2023
Data points 29

By year

All years · 1995 – 2023

YearWest MidlandsChange United KingdomWorld
2023 4.4% −0.2 pp 3.9% 4.8%
2022 4.6% −0.4 pp 3.7% 5.2%
2021 5.0% −0.4 pp 4.5% 6.0%
2020 5.4% +0.6 pp 4.6% 6.6%
2019 4.8% +0.1 pp 3.8% 5.6%
2018 4.7% −0.6 pp 4.1% 5.8%
2017 5.3% −0.2 pp 4.4% 5.9%
2016 5.5% −0.4 pp 4.9% 6.0%
2015 5.9% −0.9 pp 5.4% 6.0%
2014 6.8% −1.7 pp 6.2% 6.0%
2013 8.5% −0.2 pp 7.6% 6.1%
2012break in series 8.7% −0.4 pp 8.0% 6.2%
2011 9.1% +0.1 pp 8.1% 6.1%
2010 9.0% −0.7 pp 7.9% 6.3%
2009 9.7% +3.0 pp 7.6% 6.4%
2008 6.7% +0.4 pp 5.7% 5.8%
2007 6.3% +0.4 pp 5.3% 5.8%
2006 5.9% +1.1 pp 5.4% 6.0%
2005 4.8% −0.4 pp 4.8% 6.2%
2004 5.2% −0.6 pp 4.8% 6.3%
2003 5.8% +0.1 pp 5.0% 6.5%
2002 5.7% +0.2 pp 5.2% 6.4%
2001 5.5% −0.5 pp 5.1% 6.2%
2000 6.0% −0.8 pp 5.5% 6.1%
1999 6.8% +0.6 pp 6.0% 6.3%
1998 6.2% −0.7 pp 6.3% 6.2%
1997 6.9% −1.6 pp 7.0% 6.0%
1996 8.5% −0.2 pp 8.1% 6.0%
1995 8.7% 8.6% 5.9%

Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1995 – 2023

Ranking · Regions of United Kingdom

2019 · Place 1 is the highest value.

Year: 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Highest first Lowest first A–Z
#TerritoryUnemployment rate
13 Northern Ireland 2.7%
12 South East England 3.0%
11 South West England 3.1%
10 East of England 3.2%
9 Scotland 3.5%
8 East Midlands 3.7%
7 North West England 4.1%
6 Wales 4.1%
5 Yorkshire and The Humber 4.4%
4 Outer London - West and North West 4.6%
3 Greater London 4.6%
2 West Midlands 4.8%
1 North East England 5.8%

Source: OECD Regional Database, 2019

What it means

The share of people who want a job and are looking for one but do not have one.

How it is calculated

Unemployed people divided by the labour force (employed plus unemployed), following the international definition; annual average.