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
Non-workers
Low income and deprivation
The latest local unemployment estimates were released on 20th January 2026. They are based on responses to the Annual Population Survey (APS) over a 12-month period between October 2024 and September 2025. The next release will be in April 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
4.5%
North East unemployment rate
(Oct 24-Sep 25) % of all economically active adults, higher than UK rate (4.2%).
+0.1 pp
compared to a year earlier
expressed in percentage points (pp). Still 3rd lowest rate of last 20 years, UK rate: +0.5 pp in the latest year.
median
8th highest of 15 similar areas
comparing the 15 English combined authority areas.
5.9%
Sunderland unemployment rate
The highest rate among the seven North East local authority areas. Lowest: North Tyneside (3.6%).
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. Next update: Apr 2026. Geography: North East combined authority area; UK.
Data information: Unemployed adults as a percentage of economically active adults. Next update: Apr 2026 Geography: English Combined authority (CA) areas, national comparisons.
Data information: Unemployed adults as a percentage of economically active adults. Local authority (LA) level unemployment estimates from the Annual Population Survey are strengthened by using data from the claimant count. The estimates for other area types are unmodelled. Annual Population Survey estimates are based on surveys over a 12 month period. Next update: Apr 2026 Geography: North East CA (combined authority) area and LA areas, national comparisons.
(Oct 24-Sep 25) up 1.2 pp in the latest year, above the UK rate (4.0%).
4.3%
male unemployment rate
(Oct 24-Sep 25) Down 1.0 pp in the latest year. Below the UK rate (4.4%).
16.1%
female 16 to 24 rate
Highest of the eight age/sex combinations. Male equivalent: 13.0%. North East rates below UK rates for males aged 16-24, 35-49, 50-64, females aged 35-49
42%
aged under 25
Among North East unemployed. 19% aged 50 and over, females and males, respectively, 50.7% and 49.3% of the total.
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. Next update: Apr 2026. Geography: North East CA (combined authority) area; UK.
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. Next update: Apr 2026. Geography: North East CA (combined authority) area.
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. Next update: Apr 2026. Geography: North East CA (combined authority) area.
Data information: Each total is based on surveys over a 12 month period. This chart shows data for non-overlapping 12 month periods. Next update: Apr 2026. Geography: North East CA (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.
