Home Report Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate

Unemployed people are not in work, but are actively seeking employment. Includes comparisons of headline rates (the 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 21st January. 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 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 trends and comparisons

4.3%

North East unemployment rate

(Oct 23-Sep 24)
% of all economically active adults,
above the England excluding London rate (3.5%).

+0.2 pp

compared to a year earlier

expressed in percentage points (pp).
Still 2nd lowest rate of the last 20 years,
England excluding London rate was unchanged in the latest year.

4th

lowest of nine similar areas

comparing the English combined authority areas in the north and midlands.

6.3%

Newcastle unemployment rate

The highest rate among the seven North East local authority areas.

North East unemployment by age and sex

3.4%

female unemployment rate

(Oct 23-Sep 24)
up 0.1 pp in the latest year,
above the England excluding London rate (3.2%).

5.2%

male unemployment rate

Up 0.3 pp in the latest year,
Above the England excluding London rate (3.8%).

17.5%

male 16 to 24 rate

Highest of the eight age/sex combinations.
Female equivalent: 9.6%.
Both above England excl. London rates,
other six North East rates all below 4.4%.

46%

aged under 25

Among North East unemployed
20% aged 50 and over,
males and females, respectively,
61% and 39% of the total.

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