This report aims to provide data and commentary on a range of demographic and economic indicators.
The report was commissioned by the Economic Inclusion team at Advantage West Midlands.
For a broader range of indicators there is an accompanying data annex (XLS, 866 KB) presenting indicators for the local authorities, regeneration zones and comparing rural areas to urban areas.
Economic inclusion is one of the five key challenges identified within the West Midlands Economic Strategy.
Regional partners recognise that different rates of economic growth within the West Midlands can contribute to a widening of the gap between different groups of people. This has implications both for achieving the potential for economic growth and for social cohesion.
At present there is limited evidence to inform the current position within the region. The map shows the distribution of areas of deprivation as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The red areas indicate locations where levels of deprivation are in the 20% most deprived in England.
Click on the map to view a larger image.
This report highlights the importance of joined up thinking by identifying the linkages to the skills and social inclusion agendas as well as to local area initiatives.
What are the key findings?
- Over 1 in 4 (26%) of the Region’s population live in areas identified as being among the most deprived in the country.
- The most deprived areas have higher relative concentrations of young people (pp. 8-13).
- There is a greater ethnic mix in the deprived areas, with larger concentrations of Asians and Asian British than across the region as a whole.
- Economic activity rates across the regeneration zones are below the regional average.
- Nearly 30% of the population in the most deprived areas are experiencing some form of worklessness.
- The incidence of people with no qualifications is significantly higher in the regeneration zones.
- Earnings are below the regional average in the regeneration zones.
- New business formation rates, while still below the regional average are improving.