Reference: FOI-2024-1918

You asked

I'm writing to inquire if the ONS could help us to provide following data within the West Midlands Combined Authority and its 7 Local Authorities, data we are requesting are:

  • Number of employment for several SICs as attached within WMCA and its 7 LAs from 2019 to 2023
  • Gross Value Added generated from each of attached SIC from 2019 to 2023
  • Percentage to the regional GDP

We said

Thank you for enquiry.   

ONS publish Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) data on NOMIS. BRES is an employer survey of the number of jobs held, broken down by industry and publishes employee and employment estimates at detailed geographical and industrial levels. It is the official source of employee and employment estimates by detailed geography and industry. The Business Register and Employment Survey : open access dataset provides information on the number of jobs held by employees broken down by full/part-time at detailed industry (5 digit SIC2007). This data is available from country down to lower-level super output area and Scottish datazone. The latest data available is for 2022, the next release is scheduled for the 17 October 2024.  

ONS publish regional GVA (balanced) by industry: local authorities by ITL1 region which provides information on current price estimates, chained volume measures and implied deflators for local authority districts, London boroughs, unitary authorities and Scottish Council areas, with a detailed industry breakdown. We also publish regional GDP: local authorities which provides annual estimates of balanced UK regional gross domestic product (GDP). Current price estimates and chained volume measures for local authority districts, London boroughs, unitary authorities and Scottish Council areas. 

ONS produces the Annual Business Survey (ABS). The ABS is an annual survey of businesses covering the production, construction, distribution and services industries, which represents about two-thirds of the UK economy in terms of gross value added (GVA). The ABS output is an important contributor to the UK National and Regional Accounts to inform, for example, the estimation of gross domestic product (GDP). The background information to the ABS can be found here.  

The requested information would need to be created from ABS survey data. This would involve creating the geographical levels required as most of the ABS analysis is conducted at International Territorial level 1. Public authorities are not required to create new information in response to Freedom of Information requests. Therefore, the information requested is not held. 

However, we may be able to create an output similar to the information requested via our bespoke 'Special Analysis' service, subject to disclosure controls, resources, legal frameworks, and an agreement of costs, in line with the ONS Charging Policy. Please note that in some instances disclosure controls may result in the need to collapse categories, raise geographical levels or introduce minimum population thresholds to maintain respondent confidentiality. Please contact abaps@ons.gov.uk to discuss this further.