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).
The latest local unemployment estimates were released on 15th April 2025. They are based on responses to the Annual Population Survey (APS) over a 12-month period between January and December 2024. The next release will be in July 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
4.4%
North East unemployment rate
(Jan 24-Dec 24)
% of all economically active adults,
higher than the England excl. London rate
(3.6%).
+0.8 pp
compared to a year earlier
expressed in percentage points (pp).
Still 2nd lowest rate of the last 20 years,
England excl, London rate increased
by 0.1 pp 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.
Lowest: Northumberland (3.8%).
Source: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis). Next update: Jul 2025 Data information: Unemployed adults as a percentage of economically active adults, rolling 12-month periods. This chart shows data for non-overlapping 12 month periods. Geography: North East combined authority area and England excluding London.
Source: Annual Population Survey, local authority data from modelled estimates (both ONS via Nomis). Next updates: Jul 2025 Data information: Unemployed adults as a percentage of economically active adults. Geography: Combined authority (CA) areas, North East local authority (LA) areas, national comparisons.
(Jan 24-Dec 24)
up 0.7 pp in the latest year,
above the England excl. London rate
(3.3%).
5.0%
male unemployment rate
Up 0.9 pp in the latest year,
above the England excl. London rate
(4.0%).
17.5%
male 16 to 24 rate
Highest of the eight age/sex combinations.
Female equivalent: 10.9%.
Both above England excl. London rates,
other six N.E. rates all less than half of these.
45%
aged under 25
Among North East unemployed.
23% aged 50 and over,
males and females, respectively,
58% and 42% of the total.
Source: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis). Next update: Jul 2025 Data information: Unemployment rate expressed as a percentage of economically active people in each group. Statistics sourced from a survey of individuals so the rates are based on estimates rather than counts and are subject to a degree of uncertainty. Geography: North East combined authority area and England excluding London.
Source: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis). Next update: Jul 2025 Data information: Annual Population Survey estimates are based on surveys over a 12 month period. Unemployment estimates are based on small sample sizes and may be volatile over time. Geography: North East combined authority area.
Source: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis). Next update: Jul 2025 Data information: Percentage of economically active adult (16+) population. Each rate is based on surveys over a 12 month period. This chart shows data for non-overlapping 12 month periods. Geography: North East combined authority area.
Source: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis). Next update: Jul 2025 Data information: Each total is based on surveys over a 12 month period. This chart shows data for non-overlapping 12 month periods. Geography: North East combined authority area.
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.
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.
