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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).

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Introduction

The latest local unemployment estimates were released on 21 April 2026. They are based on responses to the Annual Population Survey (APS) over a 12-month period between January 2025 and December 2025. The next release will be in July 2026.

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

(Jan 25-Dec 25)
% of all economically active adults,
lower than UK rate (4.4%).

-0.1 pp

compared to a year earlier

expressed in percentage points (pp).
Second lowest rate of last 20 years,
UK rate: +0.6 pp in the latest year.

median

8th highest of 15 similar areas

comparing the 15 English
combined authority areas.

5.4%

South Tyneside unemployment rate

The highest rate among the seven
North East local authority areas.
Lowest: North Tyneside (3.8%).

North East unemployment by age and sex

4.8%

male unemployment rate

(Jan 25-Dec 25)
Down 0.3 pp in the latest year.
Above the UK rate (4.6%).

3.8%

female unemployment rate

(Jan 25-Dec 25)
unchanged in the latest year,
below the UK rate (4.1%).

13.9%

male 16 to 24 rate

Highest of the eight age/sex combinations.
Female equivalent: 12.7%.
North East rates below UK rates for
males aged 16-24, 35-49, 50-64,
females aged 35-49, 50-64

65%

aged under 35

Among North East unemployed.
18% aged 50 and over,
males and females, respectively,
57% and 43% 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 are neither in work or actively seeking employment.

View the statistics
Claimant count

A measure of people claiming benefit because they are seeking employment. Includes information about sub local authority areas.

View the statistics
Labour market homepage

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

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