Bleak picture for skills and employment in Walsall as nearly a quarter of adults are 'economically inactive'

Poor health, unemployment and low skills are just a few challenges facing Walsall’s economy, councillors have been told.

The depressing picture was painted for the members of the children’s education and skills scrutiny committee at a meeting on Monday (July 13).

The amount of 18- to 24-year-olds in Walsall claiming benefits stands at 7.6 per cent, higher than the national figure of 4.4 per cent.

Members heard that 22.8 per cent of adults were economically inactive and that there were high rates of unemployment due to a ‘mismatch of skills’ for in-demand positions.

Also reported was poor educational achievement, as 11.2 per cent of adults have no qualifications at all; too few businesses in the borough; as well as poor health, with high levels of inactivity and obesity.

On the flip side, Walsall performed slightly better than the national average in the number of 16- and 17-year-olds not in employment, education or training.

From January to March 2026, over a million 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK were out of work or training, an increase of 8.8 per cent from the same period in 2025.

The update was provided to councillors as the authority’s skills and employment service undergoes a review.

It is being led by James Norris, the council’s newly appointed head of skills and employability, a role with an advertised salary of £68,000 to £80,000.

He said: “The service is currently under review. The reason why we’re doing that is in light of that national and regional context. We know we want to do more to support residents.

“The review is driven by the need to look at reducing economic inactivity and improving economic activity, looking at supporting those with health barriers in our communities.

“The current provision is highly effective but continues to be under development so we can make sure that our residents have the greatest opportunities to access good, local jobs and opportunities further afield if that’s what they choose to do.”