Economy, jobs and prices in West Midlands, United Kingdom: official figures
Gross domestic product in the West Midlands was £33,969 per resident in 2024 at current prices, 3rd lowest of 9 English regions and below the UK figure of £41,627.
Is the economy of the West Midlands growing?
After removing inflation, output per head in the West Midlands grew by 7.0% between 2014 and 2024, against 7.8% for England as a whole.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average household income in the West Midlands?
Households in the West Midlands had £22,064 of disposable income per person in 2024 after taxes and benefits, 83.3% of the English average (£26,490) and 3rd lowest of 9 regions.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average salary in the West Midlands?
The median full-time and part-time employee living in the West Midlands earned £620 a week before tax in April 2025 (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings), 4th highest of 9 regions; England's median was £648. Weekly pay has risen 54.0% since 2015.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in the West Midlands?
75.2% of people aged 16 to 64 in the West Midlands were in work in 2023 (5th highest of 9 regions), while the modelled unemployment rate was 4.4% (England: 76.0% and 3.7%).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow productive is the West Midlands?
Each hour worked in the West Midlands produced £36.02 of gross value added in 2023, 3rd least productive of 9 English regions (England £42.39).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in the West Midlands?
The West Midlands had 228,545 active businesses in 2024, 9.1% of England's total; new firms were 11.8% of the stock that year and 44.9% of businesses born in 2021 were still trading three years later.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow much does the West Midlands export?
Exports of goods and services from the West Midlands were worth £57.7 billion in 2023, and foreign companies held £128.3 billion of direct investment there in 2024 (6.6% of England's inward FDI).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow many jobs are there in the West Midlands?
There were 0.79 jobs for every resident aged 16 to 64 in the West Midlands in 2024 (England 0.86), and businesses spent £4,862 million on research and development there in 2024.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow West Midlands compares with other region of Englands
GDP per head (current prices) (2024)
West Midlands ranks 7 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | GDP per head (current prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | South West | £37,769 |
| 4 | East of England | £36,942 |
| 5 | North West | £36,926 |
| 6 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £34,041 |
| 7 | West Midlands | £33,969 |
| 8 | East Midlands | £32,064 |
| 9 | North East | £29,957 |
Gross median weekly pay, residents (2025)
West Midlands ranks 4 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Gross median weekly pay, residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £767 |
| 2 | South East | £678 |
| 3 | East of England | £671 |
| 4 | West Midlands | £620 |
| 5 | North West | £616 |
| 6 | South West | £614 |
| 7 | East Midlands | £606 |
Gross disposable household income per head (2024)
West Midlands ranks 7 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Gross disposable household income per head |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | East of England | £26,795 |
| 4 | South West | £25,924 |
| 5 | East Midlands | £22,761 |
| 6 | North West | £22,523 |
| 7 | West Midlands | £22,064 |
| 8 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £21,913 |
| 9 | North East | £20,562 |
Employment rate, ages 16 to 64 (2023)
West Midlands ranks 5 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 16 to 64 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South West | 78.8% |
| 3 | East of England | 77.5% |
| 4 | East Midlands | 75.5% |
| 5 | West Midlands | 75.2% |
| 6 | London | 74.6% |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 74.2% |
| 8 | North West | 73.8% |
GDP per head (£, current prices) (2024)
West Midlands ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per head (£, current prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | North West | £36,926 |
| 7 | Northern Ireland | £35,108 |
| 8 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £34,041 |
| 9 | West Midlands | £33,969 |
| 10 | East Midlands | £32,064 |
| 11 | Wales | £31,484 |
| 12 | North East | £29,957 |
Gross disposable household income per head (£) (2024)
West Midlands ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross disposable household income per head (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | East Midlands | £22,761 |
| 7 | North West | £22,523 |
| 8 | Northern Ireland | £22,258 |
| 9 | West Midlands | £22,064 |
| 10 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £21,913 |
| 11 | Wales | £21,469 |
| 12 | North East | £20,562 |
Median gross weekly pay of residents (£) (April 2025)
West Midlands ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median gross weekly pay of residents (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South East | £678.0 |
| 3 | East of England | £670.8 |
| 4 | Scotland | £642.9 |
| 5 | West Midlands | £619.7 |
| 6 | North West | £615.9 |
| 7 | South West | £613.6 |
| 8 | East Midlands | £605.9 |
Gross value added per hour worked (£) (2023)
West Midlands ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross value added per hour worked (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | South West | £38.75 |
| 7 | Northern Ireland | £36.88 |
| 8 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £36.82 |
| 9 | West Midlands | £36.02 |
| 10 | North East | £35.82 |
| 11 | East Midlands | £35.61 |
| 12 | Wales | £35.15 |
Employment rate, ages 16 to 64 (%) (2023)
West Midlands ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 16 to 64 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South West | 78.8% |
| 3 | East of England | 77.5% |
| 4 | East Midlands | 75.5% |
| 5 | West Midlands | 75.2% |
| 6 | Scotland | 74.7% |
| 7 | London | 74.6% |
| 8 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 74.2% |
More on West Midlands: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · the United Kingdom
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Explore Local Statistics: all datasets (116 indicators for UK local areas, regions and nations), spreadsheet generated 22 October 2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ae2f3a7b3960…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.