Supporting local residents to progress in the labour market
Employment rate
Employment among Coventry residents increased in 2024, despite a challenging economic climate and cautious business investment. The employment rate rose from 72.2% (April 2023 to March 2024) to 74.7% (January to December 2024) and is now above the West Midlands average (74.1%) however it remains below the national average (75.7%).
The economic inactivity rate fell from 22.4% in 2023 to 20.3% in 2024. Coventry has historically had lower employment rates than the national average, partly due to its large student population.
| Reporting period | Coventry % | England % |
|---|---|---|
| January 2006 to December 2006 | 70.3% | 72.6% |
| January 2007 to December 2007 | 71.4% | 72.6% |
| January 2008 to December 2008 | 66.8% | 72.3% |
| January 2009 to December 2009 | 67.1% | 70.8% |
| January 2010 to December 2010 | 66.4% | 70.3% |
| January 2011 to December 2011 | 62.9% | 70.0% |
| January 2012 to December 2012 | 64.9% | 70.8% |
| January 2013 to December 2013 | 66.7% | 71.5% |
| January 2014 to December 2014 | 64.3% | 72.5% |
| January 2015 to December 2015 | 64.3% | 73.8% |
| January 2016 to December 2016 | 68.9% | 74.2% |
| January 2017 to December 2017 | 70.3% | 75.1% |
| January 2018 to December 2018 | 71.6% | 75.4% |
| January 2019 to December 2019 | 73.0% | 76.0% |
| January 2020 to December 2020 | 71.4% | 75.6% |
| January 2021 to December 2021 | 71.5% | 75.1% |
| January 2022 to December 2022 | 72.1% | 75.8% |
| January 2023 to December 2023 | 71.9% | 76.0% |
| January 2024 to December 2024 | 74.7% | 75.7% |
Unemployment rate
Coventry’s unemployment rate fell from 5.5% (April 2023 to March 2024) to 4.9% (January to December 2024). While this is an improvement, it remains higher than the West Midlands average of 4.3% and higher than the national average of 3.9%.
Key issues to note
- youth unemployment (ages 16 to 24) remains significantly higher than among older age groups
- the unemployment claimant count has risen in recent months
- many businesses are still facing challenges, including:
- high operating costs
- concerns over taxation
- uncertainty around potential U.S. trade tariffs
These factors could impact future job creation and business confidence, so the situation will need ongoing monitoring.
| Reporting period | Coventry % | England % |
|---|---|---|
| January 2006 to December 2006 | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| January 2007 to December 2007 | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| January 2008 to December 2008 | 7.9% | 5.8% |
| January 2009 to December 2009 | 9.9% | 7.7% |
| January 2010 to December 2010 | 9.1% | 7.6% |
| January 2011 to December 2011 | 10.2% | 8.0% |
| January 2012 to December 2012 | 8.8% | 7.9% |
| January 2013 to December 2013 | 8.3% | 7.5% |
| January 2014 to December 2014 | 7.5% | 6.2% |
| January 2015 to December 2015 | 6.1% | 5.1% |
| January 2016 to December 2016 | 5.4% | 4.8% |
| January 2017 to December 2017 | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| January 2018 to December 2018 | 4.6% | 4.1% |
| January 2019 to December 2019 | 4.6% | 3.9% |
| January 2020 to December 2020 | 5.8% | 4.7% |
| January 2021 to December 2021 | 5.5% | 4.5% |
| January 2022 to December 2022 | 4.9% | 3.6% |
| January 2023 to December 2023 | 5.8% | 3.7% |
| January 2024 to December 2024 | 4.9% | 3.9% |
