Economically active people are either in employment or unemployed (not in work but actively seeking employment). Includes comparisons of the headline working age rate and of trends by age and sex.
The latest local labour market statistics were released on 21 April 2026. They are based on responses to the Annual Population Survey (APS) over a 12-month period between January and December 2025. The next release will be in July 2026.
The headline economic activity rate measures the proportion of working age residents of an area who are either in employment or not working but actively seeking employment (classified as unemployed). The remainder of the working age population are defined as economically inactive. The 16 to 64 age group is used by the ONS as a proxy for working age, partly to simplify historical and international comparisons.
Local labour market statistics are updated each quarter, with the latest time period having a nine month overlap with that of the previous release. The time series charts on this page follow National Statistics guidance and compare non-overlapping periods.
Economic activity rate trends and comparisons
74.4%
North East economic activity rate
(Jan 25-Dec 25) % of people aged 16 to 64. Below the UK rate (79.1%).
+0.9 pp
compared to a year earlier
expressed in percentage points (pp). The UK rate increased by 0.8 pp.
second lowest rate among 15 similar areas
comparing the 15 English combined authority areas.
76.7%
County Durham economic activity rate
the highest rate among the seven North East local authority areas. All seven are below the UK rate.
The evidence hub includes other data reports that provide information about aspects of labour market. In particular, the economic inactivity report includes analysis of why people are not economically active.
Most of the raw data for these reports can be downloaded from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Economic inactivity rate
Includes a breakdown of inactivity that provides information about the reasons that working age people are not economically active.
An ONS site providing a flexible way to access up-to-date official statistics for local areas. The site focuses on all aspects of the labour market, but also includes population estimates and some economic data.
