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Economic activity rate

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.

Labour market Employment
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Introduction

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.

North East economic activity by age and sex

77.1%

male economic activity rate

(Jan 25-Dec 25, 16 to 64)
Below the UK rate
(82.4%)

71.7%

female economic activity rate

Below the UK rate
(75.7%).
The gap is smaller than for males.

89.7%

male 35-49 economic activity rate

Highest rate among the
eight age / sex combinations.
Next highest: Males 25-34 (89.1%)
All eight rates lower than UK.

36%

aged under 35

among all economically active.
32% aged 50 plus.
Males and females, respectively,
51.3% and 48.7% of the total.

Further analysis

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.

View the statistics
Employment rate

Information about the majority of economically active people - those in employment.

View the statistics
Unemployment rate

Information about the economically active people who are not in work but who are actively seeking employment.

View the statistics
Labour market homepage

The labour market hub landing page. With links to all data reports about employment, unemployment, economic inactivity, and pay.

Find more labour marker statistics
Nomis labour market statistics website

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. 

Explore the source data
Regional labour market statistics

Labour market statistics for the broader North East region. Updated monthly and more up to date than combined authority level data, but less detailed.

View the statistics