North West sees fewer jobs filled while employment rate increases

The number of jobs filled in the North West has dropped by 23k, the largest decrease for any UK region, according to the latest labour market data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The new report found that while workforce jobs decreased, the overall employment rate in the North West increased by 1.4%.

Between April 2014 and March 2015, those employed by North West companies were found to be working an average of 32.4 hours every week, a year-on-year increase of 0.4 hours, or 24 minutes. In comparison, Yorkshire and the Humber saw a decrease of 0.2 hours (12 minutes).

Elsewhere, unemployment in the North West decreased by 0.2%, although the region’s claimant count rose by 0.1%, or 3,500, to 3%.

The North West was the only UK region that saw its overall claimant count increase and, alongside Wales, was the only region in which the number of women claimants rose (by 900).

Economic activity across the North West experinced a 0.5% increase.