Some of the West Midlands’s key sectors have been hard hit. Others are so far proving more resilient.

The industries hardest hit include:

• Vehicle sales, assembly and components firms.
• Private housing construction, and related trades.

Industries showing more resilience so far include:

• Sales, particularly in non-food retail, housing .
• Construction firms involved in infrastructure and other public sector projects particularly for primary industries, including quarrying and chemical production,
• Food packaging and electronics production.
• Vehicle repair, maintenance and parts suppliers.
• Specialist industries such as aerospace, paper manufacturing and printing.
• Food retail, in particular low-cost supermarkets.

Source: Regional Skills Assessment, WMRO, 2008.