Labour Market Profile Birmingham

The city of Birmingham, often referred to as the heart of England, boasts a diverse and dynamic labour market. As a recruitment company in Birmingham, we understand the importance of staying informed about the local job market. In this blog, we’ll delve into the labour market profile of Birmingham using official census and labour market statistics from April 2022 to March 2023. Let’s explore key insights into employment, occupations, earnings, and industry sectors that shape Birmingham’s workforce.

Economic Activity and Employment

Birmingham is a bustling hub of economic activity, with 71.0% of its population being economically active. This figure, though slightly lower than the entirety of the West Midlands (77.5%) and then Great Britain as a whole (78.4%), still showcases the city’s active workforce.

In terms of employment, Birmingham stands at 65.6%, which is again slightly below the regional (73.6%) and national (75.5%) averages. Of those employed, 57.5% are employees, while 7.7% are self-employed. Unemployment in Birmingham, at 7.8%, is higher than the regional (4.8%) and national (3.6%) averages.

Gender Differences in the Labour Market

Breaking down the statistics by gender, we see intriguing patterns. Among males, 76.0% are economically active, with 69.6% employed. Males primarily work as employees (58.8%) and self-employed (10.3%), with an unemployment rate of 8.2%.

Females in Birmingham show a slightly lower rate of economic activity at 66.2%, but 61.6% are employed. Female employment is dominated by employees (56.3%) and a smaller percentage of self-employed individuals (5.1%). The female unemployment rate stands at 6.8%.

Occupational Trends

Examining employment by occupation, we find that Birmingham’s labour market is quite diverse. The major occupation groups are categorised as follows:

Managers, Directors, and Senior Officials (6.2%)
Professional Occupations (30.2%)
Associate Professional Occupations (15.0%)
Administrative & Secretarial Occupations (9.5%)
Skilled Trades Occupations (7.7%)
Caring, Leisure, and Other Service Occupations (6.5%)
Sales and Customer Service Occupations (5.9%)
Process Plant & Machine Operatives (6.2%)
Elementary Occupations (12.3%)

Birmingham stands out with a higher percentage of professionals and associate professionals compared to the West Midlands and Great Britain, indicating a diverse and knowledge-intensive workforce.

Earnings

In terms of earnings, Birmingham’s median gross weekly pay for full-time workers in 2022 was £591.56, slightly lower than the West Midlands (£613.36) but above the national average (£642.20). Male full-time workers earned £644.16, while their female counterparts earned £528.45 weekly.

For hourly pay (excluding overtime), full-time workers in Birmingham earned £15.18 on average, with males earning £16.13 and females earning £13.92 per hour. These figures reflect the city’s competitive pay rates.

Industry Sectors

Birmingham’s diverse economy is reflected in its distribution of employee jobs by industry. Key sectors include:

Wholesale and Retail Trade (13.5%)
Human Health and Social Work Activities (16.9%)
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities (10.5%)
Administrative and Support Service Activities (10.0%)
Education (9.6%)
Manufacturing (6.0%)

These figures underscore Birmingham’s role as a major commercial and healthcare center, with a strong presence in professional services and education.

Conclusion

Birmingham’s labour market, while showing some variances from regional and national averages, is a dynamic and vibrant ecosystem. The city boasts a diverse workforce, competitive pay rates, and a wide range of job opportunities in various industries. As NRS continues to serve the Birmingham community, we remain committed to helping job seekers and employers navigate this dynamic labour market effectively. Stay tuned for more insights and updates on the Birmingham job market.