Regional Skills Assessment 2005

The Regional Skills Assessment gives an overview of the key issues facing the West Midlands economy with regard to the skills agenda.

The report is updated annually and aims to inform the work of key stakeholders to align the supply of training and related business support with the current and future demands of employers and individuals.

The Assessment explores the fundamental changes taking place in the regional economy and the way in which these are driving changes in the demand for skills from employers, individuals and communities. It then goes on to consider the extent to which the skills available from the workforce are 'fit for purpose' in meeting these demands. Specifically, the Assessment examines:

• The region's recent economic performance and the extent of restructuring and diversification into new sectors and industries.

• Progress in the development of a high value added 'knowledge economy' within the region and graduate retention.

• Changes in employment demand and emerging skill needs associated with these developments in terms of higher level skills, technical and vocational skills and generic and transferable skills.

• Future prospects for employment growth by sector, industry and occupation and the impact by sub-​region.

• The supply of human capital within the region and qualification attainment.

• The specific skill gaps and deficiencies within the region's workforce, by sector, occupation, skill type and sub-​region.

• The recruitment difficulties and skill shortages employers face and the issues that are contributing to these problems.

• The extent to which employers are tackling these problems via investment in the up-​skilling of the workforce.

• Changing regional demography and the implications for the supply of skills.

• Labour market disadvantage in the region and the implications for the supply of skills.

• The issues and barriers that prevent many individuals and communities from participating in learning and accessing employment.

The full report, charts, datasets and sub-​regional profiles are all available on the downloads tab at the top of this page.

Downloads

2005 full report (PDF, 680 KB)

2005 summary report (PDF, 260 KB)

2005 data charts (PDF, 282 KB)

2005 datasets (MS Excel, 584 KB)

Sub-​regional profiles

Birmingham and Solihull (PDF, 395 KB)

Black Country (PDF, 395 KB)

Coventry and Warwickshire (PDF, 395 KB)

Herefordshire and Worcestershire (PDF, 395 KB)

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin (PDF, 410 KB)

Staffordshire (PDF, 395 KB)