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Economy & jobs Statistics · Area

Unemployment rate in Birmingham

1999 – 2023 · 25 data points 2 of 17 · Regions of West Midlands Updated 22 Oct 2026
Economy & jobs · Birmingham West Midlands United Kingdom

Source: OECD Regional Database, 1999 – 2023

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Overview 5 figures People 13 figures Economy 11 figures Education 4 figures Climate 1 figure
Latest value · 2023 7.9% +1.0 pp since 2022
Regions of West Midlands · 2023 2 of 17 Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2013 −7.3 pp
vs West Midlands +3.5 pp West Midlands: 4.4% · 2023
Unemployment rate, 1999 – 2023 percent · Birmingham · West Midlands · United Kingdom · World
−7.3 pp since 2013
Birmingham West Midlands United Kingdom World

Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1999 – 2023

Compared with Unemployment rate · percent
Birmingham
7.9%
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 Birmingham · 1999 – 2023
Latest value 7.9% · 2023
First value 10.2% · 1999
Highest 15.2% · 2013
Lowest 6.9% · 2022
Data points 25

By year

All years · 1999 – 2023

YearBirminghamChange West MidlandsUnited KingdomWorld
2023 7.9% +1.0 pp 4.4% 3.9% 4.8%
2022 6.9% −2.5 pp 4.6% 3.7% 5.2%
2021 9.4% +0.7 pp 5.0% 4.5% 6.0%
2020 8.7% +0.1 pp 5.4% 4.6% 6.6%
2019 8.6% +0.9 pp 4.8% 3.8% 5.6%
2018 7.7% −0.6 pp 4.7% 4.1% 5.8%
2017 8.3% −0.6 pp 5.3% 4.4% 5.9%
2016 8.9% −0.2 pp 5.5% 4.9% 6.0%
2015 9.1% −2.3 pp 5.9% 5.4% 6.0%
2014 11.4% −3.8 pp 6.8% 6.2% 6.0%
2013 15.2% +0.9 pp 8.5% 7.6% 6.1%
2012break in series 14.3% +0.8 pp 8.7% 8.0% 6.2%
2011 13.5% +0.5 pp 9.1% 8.1% 6.1%
2010 13.0% −0.2 pp 9.0% 7.9% 6.3%
2009 13.2% +2.2 pp 9.7% 7.6% 6.4%
2008 11.0% +2.3 pp 6.7% 5.7% 5.8%
2007 8.7% −1.3 pp 6.3% 5.3% 5.8%
2006 10.0% +1.1 pp 5.9% 5.4% 6.0%
2005 8.9% +0.4 pp 4.8% 4.8% 6.2%
2004 8.5% −1.1 pp 5.2% 4.8% 6.3%
2003 9.6% ±0.0 pp 5.8% 5.0% 6.5%
2002 9.6% +1.2 pp 5.7% 5.2% 6.4%
2001 8.4% −2.3 pp 5.5% 5.1% 6.2%
2000 10.7% +0.5 pp 6.0% 5.5% 6.1%
1999 10.2% 6.8% 6.0% 6.3%

Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1999 – 2023

Ranking · Regions of West Midlands

2023 · 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
2 Birmingham 7.9%
3 Coventry 7.3%
11 Dudley 3.1%
16 Herefordshire, County of 1.4%
14 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire 2.1%
6 Sandwell 5.8%
8 Shropshire 4.0%
13 Shropshire and Staffordshire 2.4%
10 Solihull 3.5%
17 Staffordshire CC 1.2%
7 Stoke-on-Trent 4.1%
9 Telford and Wrekin 3.7%
4 Walsall 6.6%
12 Warwickshire CC 2.4%
5 West Midlands 6.6%
1 Wolverhampton 7.9%
15 Worcestershire CC 2.0%

Source: OECD Regional Database, 2023

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.