North East regional labour market statistics

The most up to date sub-national data. The monthly release covers the wider North East region (the North East ITL1 area). This includes the North East and Tees Valley combined authority (CA) areas

Labour market
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Introduction

  • The latest ONS regional labour market data was published on 10th June. The latest headline survey data covered the three-month period of February to April 2025. 
  • The release includes the most up to date statistics about the labour market in the 12 UK ITL1 areas (the nine broad English regions, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland). It accompanies a more detailed UK labour market summary.
  • The North East ITL1 region includes the North East and Tees Valley combined authority areas.
  • Headline regional labour market rates in the release are based on responses to the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The official release includes additional estimates of employment from other sources, including administrative data. This is because falling response rates mean that some LFS-based statistics have become volatile, although methodology improvements should reduce this from early 2025 onwards. 
  • Most of the North East Evidence Hub focuses on statistics at combined authority (CA) or local authority (LA) area and LFS statistics are released every three months for these geographies, with data from surveys covering a 12-month period. This report is included on the hub to provide a timely, but limited, snapshot of headline trends for the broader North East ITL1 region.
  • The rates and totals in this report relate to the North East ITL1 region, except where stated otherwise. Changes in rates are measured in pp (percentage points). Totals are rounded to the nearest 100 so subtotals may not sum to the overall total.

North East regional employment indicators

68.2%

16-64 employment rate

Feb-Apr 2025,
lowest of 9 English regions,
England rate: 75.3%.
Based on survey responses.

-9,700

Annual employment change

Compared to Feb-Apr 2024,
latest total: 1.201 million,
change in rate: -1.2 pp,
2nd largest regional decrease,
England change: +0.4 pp.

-10,600

Change in payrolled employees

May 2024 to May 2025,
latest total: 1.122 million,
0.9% decrease,
based on administrative data,
change within NECA area: -7,900.

+23,000

Change in workforce jobs

Mar 2024 to Mar 2025,
latest total: 1.255 million,
a sum of estimates from various
sources, differs from employment
as workers can have >1 job.


Male and female employment

68.3%

Male employment rate

Fe-Apr 2025, 16-64,
lowest of 9 English regions,
England: 78.4%.
LFS-based estimates.

68.2%

Female employment rate

Feb-Apr 2025, 16-64,
lowest of 9 English regions,
England rate: 72.3%,
smallest pp gap to male rate.

-17,300

Change in male employment

Compared to Feb-Apr 2024,
latest total: 0.597 million,
change in rate: -3.2 pp,
England change: +0.6 pp.

+7,700

Change in female employment

Compared to Feb-Apr 2024,
latest total: 0.603 million,
change in rate: +0.7 pp,
England change: +0.3 pp.


Non-workers

28.1%

Economic inactivity rate

Feb-Apr 2025, 16-64,
highest of 9 regions,
England rate: 20.9%,
NE female rate: 28.8%,
NE male rate: 27.4%.

+17,600

Inactivity change in latest year

Compared to Feb-Apr 2024, 16-64,
latest total: 0.481 million,
change in rate: +0.8 pp,
England change: -0.7 pp.
 

5.0%

Unemployment rate

Feb-Apr 2025, % of
economically active adults,
3rd highest regional rate,
England rate: 4.7%.
NE total: 63,800,
+9,700 in latest year.

3.9%

Claimant count rate

May 2025, claimants of benefits
relating to job seeking,
% of 16-64 population,
England rate: 4.2%.
NE claimants: 64,800,
-700 in latest year.


Other regional data

+5.9%

Annual change in employee pay

May 2024 to May 2025, median,
PAYE payrolled employees,
UK change: +5.8%,
latest CPIH inflation rate: 4.1%.
NE median: 94.3% of UK median.
 

44,900

Workers on a zero-hours contract

Jan-Mar 2025,
+5,100 in latest year,
3.8% of all in employment,
England rate: 3.5%,
LFS-based data.
 

3,100

Redundancy level

Feb-Apr 2025,
LFS-based data,
individuals who had been
made redundant in the 3 months
prior to interview.

2,000

Potential redundancies (HR1 data)

Feb-Apr 2025,
based on HR1 forms submitted
by employers in this period.
These are only required when firms
wish to make 20+ redundancies.


Further analysis

Additional evidence about other aspects of the labour market is available across the Evidence Hub. The links below also include links to the ONS data sources.

Labour market homepage

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

Employment rate

The headline measures of employment among working age people, with bar charts comparing the North East with other areas and line charts showing trends over time.

Regional statistics bulletin (source)

The monthly bulletin of regional and local breakdowns of changes in UK employment, unemployment, and economic inactivity, with associated commentary. These are classed as official statistics in development.

Labour market overview (source)

Monthly UK level estimates of employment, unemployment, economic inactivity and other employment-related statistics.

Nomis labour market statistics website (source)

An official site with access to up-to-date information for local areas that can be downloaded in customised datasets. The site includes labour market statistics, population estimates and other economic data.