West Midlands employment rate in England: aged 16 to 64
West Midlands employment rate in England: aged 16 to 64 stood at 73.6% in Mar 2026, according to Nomis — official labour market statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Labour market structure table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Dec 2004 to Mar 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market structure table
| Indicator | 03-2026 | 12-2025 | 09-2025 | 06-2025 | 03-2025 | 12-2024 | 09-2024 | 06-2024 | 03-2024 | 12-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16 to 64 | |||||||||||
| West Midlands | 73.6 | 73.6 | 74.3 | 74.2 | 73.9 | 74 | 74.3 | 74.6 | 75 | 75.2 | |
| East of England | 78.3 | 78.4 | 78.6 | 78.7 | 78 | 77.3 | 76.5 | 76.2 | 77.1 | 77.5 |
Understanding west Midlands employment rate in England: aged 16 to 64
This indicator measures the share of the resident population aged sixteen to sixty-four in West Midlands that is in paid work, derived from household survey interviews. The measure encompasses employees, the self-employed, and participants in government training initiatives, mapped strictly to the residential location of the survey respondent. Excluded from the numerator are individuals classified as economically inactive, such as full-time students, retired persons, and long-term caregivers who do not seek employment.
When analysing these figures, users should account for the inherent volatility associated with regional sample sizes, which produce wider statistical error margins than national totals. Seasonal hiring waves around retail periods can distort short-term comparisons, making twelve-month evaluations more robust for tracking trajectory. Retrospective revisions occur when survey weights are updated to match revised demographic projections. Comparisons with claimant-based statistics should be approached cautiously due to fundamental differences in methodology and coverage.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series cover people living in communal establishments in the region?
- No, the survey frame primarily covers households, omitting residents in communal settings like nursing homes or student halls.
- How does this metric treat individuals working part-time while studying?
- Anyone who undertakes paid work of any duration during the reference week is included in the employment count, including working students.
- What causes historical revisions to this regional series?
- Revisions happen when survey results are recalibrated against updated population estimates derived from official demographic sources.