Unemployment in the East Midlands has fallen to 4.9% but is still too high, East Midlands Chamber has said, as it renewed its call for reduced cost pressure on business and skills investment to be prioritised in the Autumn Budget.
The estimated figure from the Office for National Statistics for over 16s in the East Midlands covers May to July 2026. The last time unemployment was below 4.9% was in June to August of 2025 at 4.5%.
East Midlands Chamber Director of External Affairs Richard Blackmore said: “It’s encouraging to see unemployment fall slightly in the region but 4.9% is still too high, level with the UK overall but if anything demonstrates the tough conditions employers have been facing.
“The mountain of challenges for employers range from high costs, some of which stretch back to decisions announced in 2024’s Budget, to regulatory pressures and the skills gap, which our research in the East Midlands has shown to be an ongoing problem. Our Quarterly Economic Survey has continually shown 6 out of 10 employers have struggled to find suitable candidates for roles.
“An opportunity exists to alleviate the immense pressure on employers and that’s this year’s Autumn Budget on 28th October. Our Framework for Growth, launched at last year’s Budget, calls for skills investment, and includes a set of innovative proposals to help businesses find training and apprenticeships, for example, so candidates have skills that match the needs of a role and can hit the ground running. At the same time, business rates, rising inflation and corporate taxation continue to squeeze business so it’s important that measures in the Autumn Budget reduce pressure.
“The ‘growth in every postcode’ that Government is always pitching is only going to happen if business is front and centre and that means supportive measures for employers. It’s essential the Chancellor seizes that opportunity on 28th October.”
View East Midlands Chamber’s Framework for Growth here
View East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey, Q2, 2026 here
