Employment rate

Trends in North East employment, including the headline working age rate. This information is based on survey responses over a 12 month period and is updated every three months

Labour market
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Introduction

The latest local employment estimates were released on 21st January 2024. They are based on responses to the Annual Population Survey (APS) over a 12-month period between October 2023 and September 2024. The next release will be in April 2025.

The headline employment rate measures the proportion of working age residents of an area who are in employment.  The 16 to 64 age group is used by the ONS as a proxy for working age, partly to simplify historical and international comparisons. People in employment include employees, self-employed people, unpaid family workers and those on government supported training and employment programmes.

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.


Employment rate trends and comparisons

71.0%

North East employment rate

(Oct 23-Sep 24)
% of residents aged 16 to 64
Below the England excluding London rate (75.7%)

+0.1 pp

compared to a year earlier

(pp = percentage points)
England excl. London rate
down by 0.5 pp

5th

highest rate among nine similar areas

comparing the English combined authority areas in the north and midlands

75.6%

Sunderland employment rate

the highest rate among the seven North East local authority areas


Employment by sex and age

72.4%

male 16-64 employment rate

(Oct 23-Sep 24)
Below the England excluding London rate (78.7%)

69.5%

female 16-64 employment rate

Below the England excluding London rate (72.7%).
Smaller pp gap than for males

87.7%

male 35-49 employment rate

Highest rate among the
eight age / sex combinations.
Female equivalent: 78.0%
 

33%

of workers aged 50 and over

35% aged under 35.
Males and females, respectively,
50.5% and 49.5% of workers


Employment totals

901,200

North East residents in employment

Up 36,400 in the last decade,
down 15,100 in the latest five years.
Including resident workers aged 65+
who are not included in the headline rate.

876,100

North East workplace employment

Up 47,300 in the last decade,
down 9,100 in latest five years.
Excludes residents working elsewhere
or with no fixed workplace.
Includes in-commuters from other areas.

+60,900

Newcastle's estimated net in-commute

The only North East local authority area
with workplace employment higher
than the number of residents in work.
Workplace employment is at least
9,000 lower in each of the other six.

managerial and professional occupations

make up 54% of Newcastle's net in-commute,
62% of County Durham's net out-commute,
58% of North Tyneside's net out-commute.


Further analysis

The evidence hub includes other data reports that provide information about aspects of employment. It also features analysis of the labour market as a whole, including reports about unemployment, economic inactivity and pay.

Most of the raw data for these reports can be downloaded from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Employment types

Information about self-employment; part-time working; number of hours worked; second jobs; temporary and zero hours work; and public sector employment

Employment by sector

Information about the number of people in employment in VAT / PAYE registered businesses by industry, including highlighting North East sector specialisms.

Employment by occupation

The occupational structure of the North East labour market.

Projected employment change

Projections of the types of jobs in the North East labour market, and the skills that workers will need, up to 2035.

Labour market homepage

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

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. 

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.