Unemployment has continued to fall in the South West, bucking the national trend and pointing to a brighter outlook for the region’s businesses.
But Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, warned the national rise signalled a slowing economy and could impact on firms in the Bristol area if the Government did not take steps to ease other burdens on business. 
The South West’s jobless total fell by 2,000 in the three months to February, putting it at 3.8% – a long way below the UK average of 5.1%.
On a national level, unemployment rose for the first time since mid-2015, with 21,000 more people looking for work compared to three months ago.
Business West – which runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Bristol Initiative – welcomed the regional drop in unemployment, which it said reflected its recent member survey.
Managing director Phil Smith, pictured, said: “A rise in national unemployment naturally raises some alarm bells, especially with national growth starting to soften in the face of global headwinds.
“However, our recent Local Business Survey found increases in sales and recruitment in the South West over the same period and these results show that our region’s jobless rate remains way below the national average.
“Add into the mix that almost two-thirds of firms told us they are confident for the year ahead and our local economy still appears to stand in good stead.
“Nonetheless, warning signs at the national level should remind politicians that the EU debate isn’t the only thing businesses are concerned about.
“As the debate heats up and hogs the headlines, we must see a focus to tackle the issues that hurt firms day-in, day-out, which are acting as a drag on long-term growth.”
