East Midlands Chamber has renewed calls for skills investment to be prioritised by policymakers, as outlined in its Framework for Growth, after latest unemployment data revealed the region remains at 5.6%, above the overall UK level at 5.2%.
The latest estimated figures from the Office for National Statistics for over 16s in the East Midlands cover the period between November and January 2026.
The Chamber’s Framework for Growth sets out specific asks of policymakers aimed at helping the East Midlands thrive across areas like taxation, regulation, devolution, planning reform and infrastructure investment.
On skills, it proposes reforms like flexible skills funds for SMEs and microbusinesses and creation of a single portal for firms to access apprenticeships more easily.
Across 2025, the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey found 6 out of 10 East Midlands employers had struggled finding staff to fill roles, while the latest soon to be published survey for Q1 of 2026, reveals an increase closer to 7 out of 10.
East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “While a slight fall in East Midlands unemployment is the right direction of travel, 5.6% is still above the overall UK level and still far too high so it’s essential that support is prioritised by political leaders, as we have proposed in our Framework for Growth.
“The latest Chamber research for the first quarter of 2026 will be released in the coming days and shows an increase toward 7 out of 10 employers in the East Midlands saying they have struggled to find suitable staff. The figure was already high at 6 out of 10 across 2025 but for it to have increased demonstrates the extent of the skills gap.
“The Jobs Guarantee scheme is an example of the kind of support needed but initiatives like that need mobilising at scale. Accessing apprenticeships and funding opportunities can be a complex process so simplification is needed, as set out in our Framework for Growth, so that more businesses are likely to take up the options open to them.
“Higher National Insurance contributions and a higher national living wage were imposed on firms following the 2024 Budget, while concern has been mounting recently over business rates, inflation and the effect the Middle East conflict could have on it, as well as regulations for businesses to prepare for from the Employment Rights Act.
“Employers need to be incentivised to invest so policies must be put in place that achieve that, while providing a talent pool to employers made up of candidates equipped with the skills they need.”
