Member Article

North East ends 2017 with employment up 28,000 for the year

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) paint a good picture for the North East’s employment scene.

Employment in the region stands at 1,229,000, or 72.6%, an increase of 17,000 over the quarter and 28,000 over the year. This compares to a rate of 75.1% nationally.

Meanwhile, North East unemployment stands at 77,000, or 5.9%, unchanged over the last quarter and a fall of 7,000 over the year. This compares to a rate of 4.3% nationally.

Victoria Sutherland, Senior Economist at the NELEP, commented: “Over the last quarter and year, the North East has seen the greatest improvement in the proportion of its population aged 16 to 64 that are in employment of all the regions and nations in the UK.

“The region has also seen the largest increase in its economic activity rate, suggesting that increasing employment opportunities in the North East are bringing more people into the labour market.

“These improvements also mean the gap is closing between the North East and elsewhere, a key objective of the North East Strategic Economic Plan.

“The increase of 28,000 more people in work reflects the hard work and ambition of businesses in the region. However, whilst the region has made significant progress, levels of unemployment in the North East are still among the highest of the UK regions.

“The North East Strategic Economic Plan sets out a range of actions that aim to deliver more and better jobs for the region and to support residents to access these.

“Given that we are entering a period of economic uncertainty, the North East LEP will continue to work with partners to help businesses scale and to create more and better jobs.”

Paul Carbert, policy adviser, North East England Chamber of Commerce, added: “These statistics reflect the strength of the North East economy which in recent months has demonstrated real resilience and growth.

“Our employers continue to report strong sales and whilst uncertainty affects future confidence, there is a still very positive outlook for 2018.

“The figures certainly continue the recent positive trend, particularly on employment where the rate has increased more than in any other region over the past year.

“It is also good to see that the number of workforce jobs has increased by 34,000 over the past year, with a significant increase in the number of self-employment jobs (up by 16% over the past year).”