The number of people out of work continues to drop, but the boss of East Midlands Chamber said it was as vital as ever for businesses to invest in skills.
The chamber said the regional unemployment rate hit a recent low at 3.1 per cent over the winter, down from 3.4 per cent for the previous quarter. It compares to a UK average of 3.9 per cent.
Only three other regions had a better rate – the South West of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
