Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, has again called on the Government to do more to tackle youth joblessness and the skills crisis following another fall in unemployment.
Figures released earlier this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show unemployment in the South West is now the lowest in the country after dropping by 7,000 in the three months to December.
The region’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.2% and now stands at 3.7% – taking it lower than the East of England’s rate for the first time.
Nationally, unemployment dropped by 60,000, maintaining decade-low level of 5.1%. 
However, with youth unemployment remaining high at 13.6% – over twice as high as total unemployment – and Business West, the organisation behind Bath Chamber of Commerce, has repeated its plea for action.
Business West managing director Phil Smith, pictured, said: “The good news is already starting to stack up in 2016, and this fall in unemployment comes after our latest local business survey found that almost two thirds of our region’s businesses are confident for the year ahead.
“The headlines back up these statistics. Retailer The Range has just announced a 1,000-job distribution centre the size of 15 Wembley Stadiums in Avonmouth, and a few weeks ago we saw [Chancellor] George Osborne in Bristol announcing the Government’s contribution to the £38m that Airbus is investing to develop its wing of the future.
“But these block figures can also hide key local challenges such as the 170 redundancies that Somerset-born Clarks announced last week.
“The last couple of months have shown the South West economy is performing strongly, but there are still hurdles in the way of long-term prosperity.
“Although unemployment is low, youth unemployment remains high and local businesses are still telling us that skills gaps are holding them back. Long-term planning is needed from government, education providers and business to address this fundamental issue.”
