West Midlands Report Predicts Nearly 100,000 Jobs, £6.5bn Economic Growth by 2035

An independent report commissioned by the Universities of Warwick and Birmingham predicts the West Midlands region could create nearly 100,000 new jobs and add £6.5 billion annually to the UK economy by 2035. The report, prepared by the consultancy Public First, highlights key sectors driving this growth, including advanced manufacturing, green energy, electric vehicles, logistics, professional services, and digital innovation. Mayor Richard Parker emphasized the region's potential as a 'real opportunity' for economic renewal and the importance of focusing on these industries to overcome a decade of underperformance relative to national growth averages. The report outlines each of the seven local authorities—Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton—as having vital roles in this transformation. Drawing on examples from other global regions, the analysis suggests that strategic investment in high-productivity sectors could nearly double current job growth projections. The forthcoming West Midlands Regional Growth Plan, set to be published in June, aims to capitalize on these findings to establish the region as one of global economic significance.