Fit for the Future? Shining some clear light

“ Shining some clear light” Rosie Paskins Chief Executive West Midlands Regional Observatory West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009 Fit for the Future?

“ There is nothing so terrible
as activity
without insight”
Goethe

Fit for the Future?
The start of a
State of the Region dialogue

Key themes from “Fit for the Future?”
“ Are our skills today the right ones for tomorrow, or have we simply improved on the skills for yesterday’s needs?”
“ The time to prepare ourselves for a post recession economy with the right skill set to take us forward is now.”
“ High skill, high value sectors are key … and that, in turn, makes skills, innovation and research and development essential to future success.”
“ Science and innovation need to be unwrapped from the risk aversion which surrounds and infuses them at the moment.”

State of the Region
Report 2009

Since the late 1990s regional growth has been lower than the UK average West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009

The regional output gap continues to grow - to £15bn West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009

Worklessness is high and increasing West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009 Source: Office for National Statistics (Annual Population Survey 2004-2008) Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO

After a marked increase last year, the region now has the highest unemployment rate of all regions Source: Office for National Statistics (Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted data) West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009

Young and unqualified people have been particularly badly affected by the recession Source: LFS 2009

More than I in 10 of our young people is claiming Job Seekers Allowance West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009 Source: Office for National Statistics (claimant count, September 2009)

The region is closing the skills gap Source: WMRO

But we still have the highest percentage of working age population with no qualifications Source: LFS 2008 England

Private sector employment has been contracting, in contrast to all other regions (1998 – 2005) West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009

The number of those aged 85 and over is expected to double in the next twenty years West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009

The Observatory
Annual Report
2008-09

Places potentially at economic risk include Bridgnorth and Cannock Chase Cannock Chase Bridgnorth Red areas are at most risk, green areas at least risk

The proportion of private sector employees with NVQ Level 4+ is falling Source: LFS 2008

The region has one of the lowest proportions of private sector employees with NVQ Level 4 Source: LFS 2008 England

The majority of out-of-work benefit claimants are claiming incapacity benefits

The reputation of, and satisfaction with, the Observatory have improved
Reputation – 93% felt the Observatory’s reputation was ‘good’ or ‘excellent’
Satisfaction – 86% felt satisfied or highly satisfied with the Observatory
Source: Satisfaction survey 2009

Comments from Satisfaction Survey
“ Great team, great service and great products - enjoy working with you.”
“ The Observatory has done well to establish a niche for itself. The seminars, annual conference, newsletters, e-mail alerts, networks are excellent.”
“ It would be good if the "message" of the good work that the Observatory is doing … could be spread to more chief executives and senior decision makers in the region.”
“ My only suggestion would be that the Observatory better communicates what it does and what it has on offer….Maybe you are a 'well kept secret' that deserves a bigger audience.”

Fit for the Future?
The start of a
State of the Region dialogue

West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009

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Fit for the Future? Shining some clear light

by West Midlands Regional Observatory

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