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The government is not acting quickly enough to stop unemployment, according to business leaders in the West Midlands. It comes as the latest jobless figures in the region increased by 9,000 in the three months to November.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed a total of 243,000 people were unemployed in the region between September and November 2011.

The West Midlands' unemployment rate was 9.2 per cent and rose of 3.8 per cent during the period.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) said business confidence is falling and is now much lower than in the second quarter last year, according to its quarterly economic survey.

BCCG president Michael Ward said: "HS2 is all well and good but too far away to create the employment we need now. Parliamentary procedures could delay and damage the project. Schemes like the A45/6, which will accommodate the Birmingham airport runway extension, will provide more immediate jobs but the government should be implementing initiatives which will encourage business to invest.

"We need to make doing business easier so that more people will be encouraged to set up their own business. Many of our members are small companies and the chamber can do much to help entrepreneurs feel that they are not alone.

"We are campaigning for a reduction in regulation and red tape, much of it to do with recruitment, which will encourage business to employ more people and invest in training."

John Rider, West Midlands chairman of the Institute of Directors, added: "The figures are yet again a big worry. Business confidence is the key to a turnaround and hopefully that may improve as the year goes on.

"At least we can look forward to inward investment like Jaguar Land Rover, perhaps progress on Europe's economic woes and the Olympic feel-good factor.