Welcome to the latest Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Economic Bulletin from the Economy, Skills and Insight Teams. This bulletin brings together the latest government data, national intelligence and local insights to help explain what is happening in the local economy.
This edition focuses on:
- Claimant Count and unemployment trends
- Youth unemployment
- Job vacancies
- Business insolvencies
- Support available for residents and businesses
We welcome feedback on future editions. Please email SkillsAnalysis@staffordshire.gov.uk with any comments or suggestions.
Darryl Eyers
Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills
Staffordshire County Council
View the full bulletin
Key Messages
Staffordshire has seen an increase in the number of people claiming work-related benefits over the past year, mainly due to a rise in youth unemployment. However, there are also positive signs. Job vacancies have increased since the start of the year despite ongoing economic pressures.
The County Council remains focused on helping residents find work and supporting businesses through challenging economic conditions.
Employment and Claimant Count
There are now 15,430 work-related benefit claimants in Staffordshire. This is 640 more people than a year ago, an increase of 4.3%.
This increase is higher than:
- England: 2.6%
- West Midlands: 3.1%
The claimant rate in Staffordshire has risen from 2.7% to 2.8% of the working-age population.
Despite this increase, Staffordshire continues to have one of the lowest claimant rates in the West Midlands:
- Staffordshire: 2.8%
- England: 4.1%
- West Midlands: 5.4%
The Council will continue to support residents into employment through partnership working and its Jobs Brokerage Service.
Youth Employment
The number of young people aged 18 to 24 claiming benefits in Staffordshire now stands at 3,490.
This is:
- 420 more young claimants than last year
- An annual increase of 13.7%
This increase is higher than:
- West Midlands: 11.8%
- England: 10.3%
The youth claimant rate is now 5.6%, up from 5.0% last year.
Although this trend is concerning, Staffordshire's rate remains lower than:
- England: 6.1%
- West Midlands: 8.5%
Supporting young people into jobs, education and training remains a key priority.
Job Vacancies
Job vacancies in Staffordshire increased by 15% between September 2025 and September 2026, reaching 15,700 vacancies.
This is now higher than the number of benefit claimants in the county.
In comparison:
- Stoke-on-Trent: 6,200 vacancies, up 10%
- West Midlands: up 11%
- England: up 11%
Occupations in Demand
Strong demand continues across several sectors.
Logistics
- Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Drivers
- Warehouse Operatives
- Forklift Truck Drivers
- Road Transport Drivers
- Transport and Distribution Clerks
- Van Salespersons
Health and Social Care
- Care Workers
- Social Workers
Education
- Teaching Assistants
- Teaching Professionals
- SEND Teaching Professionals
Hospitality
- Chefs
- Kitchen and Catering Assistants
Retail and Wholesale
- Retail Assistants
- Sales Roles
- Managers and Directors
Other High-Demand Roles
- Customer Service Occupations
- Chartered and Certified Accountants
- Vehicle Technicians, Mechanics and Electricians
- Cleaners and Domestic Staff
Many employers continue to report skills shortages and difficulties filling vacancies.
Opportunities for Growth
Several sectors offer strong opportunities for future employment and investment:
- Digital and e-commerce
- Construction and home retrofit programmes
- Electric vehicle manufacturing, including Jaguar Land Rover
- Advanced manufacturing
- Hydrogen technology, led by JCB
- Logistics and distribution
Major developments include:
- West Midlands Freight Interchange, expected to create around 8,500 jobs
- Pets at Home creating more than 750 jobs in Stafford
- Carlsberg Britvic investing £4 million in a new depot
- Indurent planning to invest £800 million in industrial and logistics sites across Staffordshire
- JCB investing £100 million at its Rocester headquarters
Local Support Available
Employment and Skills Support
Residents can access:
- Connect to Work
- Skills Bootcamps
- Staffordshire Jobs and Careers Service
- Staffordshire Jobs Brokerage Service
Business Support
Businesses can access:
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund
- Staffordshire Means Back to Business Scheme
- Growth Hub support
- Start-up support programmes
- Staffordshire Business and Enterprise Network (SBEN)
- Federation of Small Businesses support sessions
- Workplace Health Service support
The new Build and Scale programme also offers specialist support for businesses in construction, maintenance and professional services.
National Context
Economy
The UK economy grew by:
- 0.4% in June 2026
- 0.4% in July 2026
- 0.1% in August 2026
GDP increased by 0.7% across the three months to August 2026.
The International Monetary Fund has upgraded the UK's growth forecast for 2026 to 1.3%.
Inflation and Cost of Living
Inflation increased from 3.1% to 3.5% between August and September 2026.
Rising transport and fuel costs were the main reasons for the increase.
Higher inflation and economic growth have led to expectations of further interest rate increases.
Labour Market
Nationally:
- Employment rate: 75.3%
- Unemployment rate: 4.7%
- Economic inactivity rate: 20.9%
- Claimant count: 1.701 million
UK job vacancies fell to 691,000, continuing a recent downward trend.
Conclusion
Staffordshire continues to face economic challenges, including rising claimant numbers, higher youth unemployment, inflation pressures and skills shortages.
However, the county also has significant strengths. Job vacancies have increased, major employers are investing, and large developments are expected to create thousands of jobs.
Continued investment in skills, employment support and business growth will be essential to help residents access good-quality jobs, address labour shortages and support long-term economic growth across Staffordshire.
