Policy leaders have warned of difficult times ahead for North East businesses and communities, following the release of latest unemployment and PAYE statistics.
Last figures from the ONS (Office for National Statistics) show that between April and June the region’s average employment rate for ages 16-64 was 71.4%, compared to the UK rate of 75.5%. The North East unemployment rate for people aged 16-plus was 5.1% – unchanged from last month’s figure and up on the UK average of 3.8%.
The average economic inactivity rate for those aged 16 to 64 was 24.9% for the North East, above the national figure of 21.4% and a gap which North East policy bosses say must be closed by the next Government. Helen Golightly, chief executive of the North East LEP said the data show little change from the position last month, aside from a small increase in the working age employment rate over the last quarter and a small decline in total employment for all age groups.
