Economic Inactivity in East Birmingham
Parts of east Birmingham exemplify a wider national issue: a significant proportion of working-age individuals are currently out of work. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that approximately one in three people aged 16 to 64 are classified as "economically inactive," meaning they are unemployed and not actively seeking employment in several communities.
Historically, suburbs such as Hodge Hill, Shard End, and Castle Bromwich were established around a robust manufacturing sector. However, the prolonged decline of factories and foundries has transformed the local economic landscape.
Although major employers like Jaguar Land Rover remain in proximity, deprivation continues to affect the area, with claims for unemployment benefits exceeding twice the national average.
For a special edition of Politics Midlands, the BBC visited the constituencies of Hodge Hill and Solihull North to investigate the underlying causes of these statistics and highlight organizations assisting individuals in their employment journeys.
Challenges Faced by Job Seekers
Liam Peers, aged 20, has been unemployed since completing college a year prior. Despite applying for 100 positions, he secured only one interview.
"You're either getting ghosted or it's just like 'oh, sorry we've got a better candidate',"
He has proactively sought work experience at the Acorns Hospice charity shop in Shard End.
"I just think it's just rough in the job market but there's not that many jobs available,"
Liam is among over one million individuals aged 16 to 24 in the UK who are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs), with recent reports indicating this is the highest figure in 12 years.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the statistic as "sobering." The question remains: why is this part of Birmingham so severely impacted across all age groups?
Structural Barriers and Community Impact
Aesha Ali, representing the training and education provider Saheli Hub, has over 22 years of experience in the industry and notes persistent challenges.
"I've been in the industry for over 22 years and it's been the same question and same barriers that our communities have been facing,"
"The deindustrialization of factories and foundries has led the communities of Hodge Hill and North Solihull struggling with the level of jobs that they can do.
It has affected their health and the cost of living, low-skilled jobs not being available to them, then no opportunities for them to actually upskill themselves."
One significant issue identified is the geographical mismatch between job availability and residential locations.
"How do our local communities get to places like Redditch or Burton where the jobs are for low-skilled sort of labour market communities? They can't travel for these opportunities."
Ali and Saheli Hub are involved in delivering WorkWell, a pilot initiative launched by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care aimed at assisting individuals facing health-related barriers to employment.
Support for Individuals with Health Challenges
Hanif Hall, a former warehouse worker unemployed for approximately two years, is a participant in the WorkWell scheme.
"I've had long term Crohn's disease for about 40 years and the associated conditions that come with it: spinal problems, joint problems,"
He explained that the physical demands of warehouse work over two decades have exacerbated his health issues.
"With WorkWell, you have a coach here who can spend more time with you discussing barriers you have into work,"
"They can provide me with support, training, CV building, digital skills."
Hanif aspires to transition from warehouse work to the hospitality sector.
"But for me, who's never had a college education, who's never written an essay before, having to write personal statements, fill out CVs, it's been very daunting."
King's Trust Initiatives for Youth Employment
The King's Trust, formerly known as the Prince's Trust, supports individuals aged 11 to 30 in Birmingham to build confidence, secure employment, or start businesses.
Communication difficulties are often a significant barrier to obtaining interviews and jobs.
Jo, a 19-year-old from Erdington, seeks employment in hospitality or music.
"I found myself improving in confidence, in talking to people, even serving people, talking to an interviewer who's asking you questions,"
Oluchi, aged 22, was unemployed for nearly a year after graduating with a Biomedical Science degree from the University of Wolverhampton.
"I've come to find out it's quite hard to get into the medical field,"
"For what I wanted to do in terms of placement in biomedical science, it was really hard because 100 to 300 people were fighting for like 20 to 50 positions."
She noted that pandemic-related lockdowns negatively affected her studies and mental health, while also preventing her from gaining work experience.
In September, Oluchi began working at TK Maxx in Birmingham after completing The King's Trust Get into Retail programme in July and has recently been enrolled in the retailer's Rising Star management programme.
Joseph, 24, from Chelmsley Wood, has been seeking employment for over three years. He participated in the King's Trust Get into Customer Services in Rail programme in 2025.
Prior to this, Joseph, who is autistic, experienced homelessness due to family breakdown and received support from the charity St Basil's to secure accommodation.
"One of the biggest barriers for me in finding a job is that it can be difficult when you send off 20 applications in a week and you end up getting nothing back, especially if you're neurodivergent.
Talking about myself feels horrible. It's really against my nature."
Government Initiatives and Employer Perspectives
Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, outlined new government policies under The Youth Guarantee package.
"It involves 300,000 more work experience places, subsidised hiring bonuses for employers - 3,000 if they take on a young unemployed person who's been out of work for six months or more,"
"And from the autumn, changes to the apprenticeship system, so a small or medium sized business will get a hiring bonus of 2,000 if they take on a young apprentice."
Steve Gill, from CW Vehicle Service Ltd in Stechford, informed the BBC that increases in the minimum wage and National Insurance contributions have made it more difficult for businesses to afford employing staff.
McFadden responded:
"If any employer hires a young worker under the age of 21, there is no employer's National Insurance liability at all. There's a tax break in the system for that."
He further addressed prevailing negative stereotypes about young people.
"And far too often I see a narrative where young people are being described as 'snowflakes or shirkers'.
That's not a message that's going to encourage anybody,"
"We should be saying to young people: 'We believe in you.'"
Follow BBC Birmingham on , Facebook, X, and Instagram.
