HomeReportUnemployment rate

Unemployment rate

Proportion of economically active population that are unemployed

Labour market Poverty and deprivation
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Introduction

The latest local unemployment estimates were released on 15th October 2024. They are based on responses to the Annual Population Survey (APS) over a 12-month period between July 2023 and June 2024. The next release will be in January 2025.

The headline unemployment rate measures the proportion of economically active adults in an area who are unemployed.  This rate differs from the headline employment, economic activity and economic inactivity rates, which are all expressed as a percentage of the 16 to 64 population.

Unemployed people are those who are not in work but who are actively seeking employment at the time of the survey. Economically inactive people make up the remainder of non-workers and have been classified as not actively seeking employment.

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.

Unemployment rate

4.2%

North East unemployment rate

% of economically active adults who are not in work
(Jul 23-Jun 24)
Higher than the England excl. London rate (3.5%)

-0.1 pp

compared to a year earlier

change expressed in pp (percentage points).
The England excl. London rate decreased by 0.2 pp

4th

lowest of nine similar areas

comparing the combined authority areas of the north and midlands

6.1%

Newcastle unemployment rate

the highest rate among the seven North East local authority areas

North East unemployment by age and sex

3.5%

female unemployment rate

(Jul 23-Jun 24)
Higher than England excl. London rate (3.2%)
down 0.2 pp compared to a year earlier.

4.9%

male unemployment rate

(Jul 23-Jun 24)
Higher than England excl. London rate (3.8%)
unchanged from a year earlier.

47%

aged under 25

Out of all unemployed people.
20% aged 50 and over,
males and females, respectively, 59% and 41% of the total.

16.3%

male 16 to 24 rate

Highest of the eight age/sex combinations.
Female equivalent: 9.0%.
Both higher than England excl. London rates,

Further analysis

The evidence hub includes other data reports that provide information about non workers within the North East labour market. Specifically, it includes reports about economic inactivity and jobseekers benefit claimants.

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

Economic inactivity rate

Statistics about the percentage of working age people who neither in work or actively seeking employment.

View the statistics

Claimant count

A measure of people claiming benefit because they are seeking employment.

View the statistics

Labour market homepage

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

Find more labour market 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