The economically inactive are non-workers who are not actively seeking employment. With information about main reason for inactivity and comparisons by sex and age group.
Labour market
Poverty and deprivation
Non-workers
Low income and deprivation
The latest local labour market statistics were released on 21st April 2026. They are based on responses to the Annual Population Survey (APS) over a 12-month period from January to December 2025. The next release will be in July 2026.
The headline economic inactivity rate measures the proportion of working age residents of an area who are not in employment and not actively seeking employment. The remainder of the working age population are either employed or unemployed. 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 ONS guidance and compare non-overlapping periods.
Inactivity trends and comparisons
25.6%
North East economic inactivity rate
(Jan 25-Dec 25) % of residents aged 16 to 64. above UK rate (20.9%).
-0.9 pp
compared to a year earlier
expressed in percentage points (pp) UK rate down by 0.8 pp. Local data can be volatile due to smaller sample sizes.
Second highest among 15 similar areas
comparing the English CA (combined authority) areas. North East rate 2.6 pp above the CA area median.
33.4%
South Tyneside economic inactivity rate
the highest rate among the seven North East local authority areas. Lowest: County Durham (23.3%)
Jan 25-Dec 25 survey data, North East LA (local authority) areas, sorted by % of inactivity due to ill health. Only one reason for economic inactivity for each respondent.
Jan 25-Dec 25 survey data, North East LA (local authority) areas. sorted by overall inactivity rate. Only one reason for economic inactivity for each respondent.
North East Mayoral Strategic Authority area, UK. % of 16-64 population that are economically inactive with long-term or temporary sickness being cited as the main reason.
Jan 25-Dec 25 survey data, North East ITL1 region (the North East and Tees Valley Combined Authority areas). Only one reason for economic inactivity for each respondent.
The evidence hub includes other data reports that provide information about non-workers within the labour market. Specifically, it includes reports about unemployment and jobseekers benefit claimants.
Most of the raw data for these reports can be downloaded from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Unemployment rate
Statistics about the percentage of economically active people who are seeking employment.
An ONS site providing a flexible way to access up-to-date official statistics for local areas. Also includes population estimates and some economic data.
