Pictured above: Christine Braddock

The rise in unemployment figures in the West Midlands announced today by the Office for National Statistics in the West Midlands could be reversed if more training and economic diversification was introduced, say Midlands business leaders.

Figures for the West Midlands showed West Midlands had 238,000 unemployed, plus 12,000 more than previous figures, showing 8.9 per cent unemployed in the West Midlands.

Early indications from members of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) show that in the service sector the labour force has continued to shrink during this final quarter of the year. 

Although 18 per cent of members said they would be expanding their workforce over the next three months, the figure is down on the 25 per cent recorded last quarter, indicating the inability of firms to take on staff as 2010 ends.

Christine Braddock, President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said that it is imperative that businesses look at re-training their staff. 

She said: "The West Midlands has record low numbers of unskilled people. General upskilling to the national average could mean that there is only a net loss of 28,000 jobs over the next five years.

"Targeted upskilling and economic diversification could create 150,000 new jobs."

Mike Ashton, Chairman of West Midlands Chamber of Commerce said: "Workers in low skilled jobs are the least likely to receive job related training. Hotel and restaurants and the manufacturing sector have over 35 per cent workforces with qualifications below level 2. Retail, wholesale and transport and agriculture have over 40 per cent. It is imperative that employers encourage their staff to gain skills."