Region 'of opportunity' could see 100k new jobs

THE West Midlands could see a huge jobs boom and the economy boosted by billions in the next decade, an independent report claims.

- GURDIP THANDI

The Universities of Warwick and Birmingham commissioned the report which has found the region has the potential to create nearly 100,000 new jobs and deliver an extra £6.5 billion to the UK economy by 2035.

Mayor Richard Parker said the report, which comes ahead of the West Midlands Regional Growth Plan this month, confirmed it was a region of 'real opportunity'.

The report by policy, research and strategy consultancy Public First sets out a vision of economic renewal grounded in advanced manufacturing, green energy, electric vehicles, logistics, professional services and digital innovation.

Its analysis, based on other regions which have taken action and increased productivity and employment growth in the same sectors, predicted:

Up to 99,000 additional jobs across key industries, nearly double current projections.

Growth outpacing the UK average, reversing a decade-long trend of regional underperformance.