The West Midlands has the second highest rate of unemployment in the country, according to newly published labour market figures.
The region's unemployment rate sat at 5.8 per cent among people aged 16 or over for the three months from April to June 2025.
Only the capital has a higher rate at six per cent while Northern Ireland can boast the lowest at 2.4 per cent.
The West Midlands has also seen the highest quarter-on-quarter increase in unemployment so far in 2025, showing an increase of 1.3 per cent.
In terms of people in employment aged 16 to 64, the region has a rate of 73.6 per cent, with the North East the lowest at 68.2 per cent and South West the highest at 80.2 per cent.
The data has been published by the Office for National Statistics.
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Emily Stubbs, head of policy at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: "Over the past year, a rise in both employment and unemployment has been driven by significant decreases in economic inactivity as many who previously left the workforce have now returned.
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"However, cost pressures continue to constrain economic growth and have contributed to vacancies consistently falling for more than three years.
"Vacancies now sit below pre-pandemic levels and the ONS has warned that some firms are not recruiting new workers or replacing workers who have left.
"Despite wage growth easing, following the national insurance hike earlier this year, labour costs remain the biggest cost pressure for firms, cited by 34 per cent of respondents to our latest survey.
"Last week, the Bank of England recognised this, citing a recent increase in firms' costs contributing to weak employment growth across the country.
"Meanwhile, concerns raised by employers about the looming Employment Rights Bill have been echoed by independent bodies including the Office for Budgetary Responsibility.
"The Chancellor must use the upcoming Autumn Budget to meaningfully alleviate the cost pressures on businesses to unlock new jobs for those seeking work.
"Whether it's young people entering the labour market, people looking to return to work or those wishing to develop in their career, they all rely on thriving businesses."
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Nationally, the unemployment rate remained at a four-year-high as job vacancies declined again, pointing towards further "cooling in the labour market".
The ONS said the rate of 海角视频 unemployment hit 4.7 per cent which was the same as the previous quarter which had been the highest level since June 2021.
It came as 海角视频 job vacancies tumbled by 44,000 over the three months to 718,000 - the lowest number of job openings since April 2021.
ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said: "Taken together, these latest figures point to a continued cooling of the labour market.
"The number of employees on payroll has now fallen in ten of the last 12 months, with these falls concentrated in hospitality and retail.
"Job vacancies, likewise, have continued to fall, also driven by fewer opportunities in these industries."