More than 43,000 people get vital jobs training as Mayor seeks to upskill the region

More than 43,000 people have been given crucial job training over the last eight months including skills needed for the region’s fast-growing industries of the future.

The training is designed to equip people with the skills needed for emerging high-tech sectors such as digital, data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), while supporting the transition to a greener economy through expertise in electrification and retrofitting.

At the same time, it addresses critical skills shortages in essential industries like construction, health and social care, and logistics, ensuring a balanced approach to workforce development across both innovative and everyday sectors.

The numbers have been welcomed by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, who has made tackling unemployment, especially amongst young people, one of his four key priorities.

The Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, launched his flagship plan for youth unemployment in the West Midlands in July 2024

His ‘Jobs for Everyone’ priority involves investing in jobs, skills, training and apprenticeships so that everyone has the opportunity of a job that pays well.

The Mayor said: “Since I was voted in as Mayor, we’ve upskilled over 40,000 people in our region. This is helping to build the skilled workforce our industries need to grow and thrive.

 “Thousands of these are young people that are out of work or possibly looking for their first job, so this investment is another step toward reducing youth unemployment.

“I'm committed to giving every young person the best possible start in life by giving them the skills they need to succeed. This a key priority for me as Mayor and a central tenant of my Youth Plan."

Since the devolution of the Adult Education Budget from Government to the region in 2019, the WMCA has invested more than £700m into skills provision in jobs and skills across a range of activities including training courses, bootcamps and pre-apprenticeship training.

The Mayor launched his flagship Youth Plan in July to tackle the region’s high levels of youth unemployment which is double the national average.

The Youth Plan focuses on pre-employment training in the region’s fastest growing sectors, fully-funded training up to level 3 and access to a range of support services including debt and careers advice. 

Dedicated work coach support is being developed in partnership with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to offer young people that are out of work tailored advice and information to find and stay in a job as well as progress their careers through learning.

It also includes creating up 20,000 work experience placements, training opportunities and apprenticeships.

By working with employers and training providers, more than 5,300 places have already been pledged for young people across the region.

The West Midlands is also set to receive up to £5m under the government’s new Get Britain Working trailblazer to deliver the Youth guarantee, supporting young people who are not in education, employment or training’ (NEET) into work.

Employers can find out more about working with the WMCA and how to support the Mayor’s pledge to create 20,000 opportunities for young people by visiting the website: Youth Employment Plan and signing up.

To find out more about the support available from the WMCA for adults looking to improve their skills and careers prospects visit the website: Employment and Skills