Levelling Up

Source: Population estimates (ONS)

Data information: Local authority by single year of age

The population in the North East LEP in 2020 was 2,003,600. This increased by 0.48% from the previous year.
England excluding London has a current population of 47,547,600 . The North East LEP makes up 3.5% of the total England populace, and 4.3% of the population of England excluding London.
The growth rate for the North East LEP from 2010 – 2020 was 4.0%. In comparison, the growth rate for England excluding London was 6.7%.
Growth rates in the North East LEP and England excluding London varied at the beginning of the decade, but were in-line from 2018 onwards.

Population by age group %, North East LEP (2020)

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Office for National Statistics

Source: Population estimates - local authority based by single year of age (ONS via Nomis), mid-2022 estimates published 23 Nov 2023.
Data information: The annual mid-year population estimates statistics roll forward the population statistics produced from decennial Censuses.
Geography: North East local authority areas

In 2020, the population of the North East LEP area was estimated to be about 2,003,600. The population aged 16 to 64 was 1,252,700, about 62.5% of the total.
The North East had a much higher percentage of people in the oldest working age group (55 to 64) than England excluding London. The percentage in the youngest working age group was also higher, partly due to the presence of four universities.
Outside of the working age groups, the North East had a smaller percentage of children but a larger percentage of those aged 65 plus.

Net change in population by age group, North East LEP area (2010 - 2020)

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North East LEP

Source: Population estimates (ONS)

Data information: Local authority by single year of age

In the 10 years from 2010 to 2020, the number of people aged 55 and over in the North East increased by about 97,000. At the same time, the population aged 35 to 54 decreased by over 48,000. The number of 16 to 24 year-olds in 2020 was also lower than 10 years earlier, but the populations of children and 25 to 34 year-olds had increased.

Population by age group and local authority, North East LEP (2020)

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Source: Population estimates (ONS)

Data information: Local authority by single year of age

County Durham has the largest population in the North East LEP, with 533,149 residents
Newcastle has the highest proportion of working age residents in the North East LEP (68%), this is because it has a much higher proportion of residents aged 16 to 24 (19%)
25% of Northumberland’s population are aged 65+, as it attracts the most people in retirement
South Tyneside has the lowest number of young adult residents, with 14,051 living there

Employment rate

Before the pandemic, the North East LEP was closing the employment gap with England excluding London. The gap however, has widened due to the impact of Covid-19. The employment rate varies little across the North East LEP.

Net change in employment (aged 16 to 64) by sex and type, North East LEP area (2020 to 2021)

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North East LEP

Source: Annual Population Survey (Nomis, last updated 12 Apr 2022)

Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, rolling 12-month periods, updated each quarter, North East LEP

Employment rate (ages 16 to 64) Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 to Jan - Dec 2021

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Office for National Statistics

Source: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update 18 Jul)
Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, rolling 12-month periods, updated each quarter, North East LEP and England excluding London. Calculated rates based on rounded totals.

The latest North East rate was 70.4% compared to 75.2% in England excluding London It was 1.5 percentage points lower than a year earlier, a larger decrease than nationally.

Employment rate by local authority (Jan 2021 - Dec 2021)

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Source: Annual Population Survey (Nomis, last updated 12 Apr 2022)

Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, rolling 12-month periods, updated each quarter, North East LEP and England excluding London

Economic inactivity

Before the pandemic, the North East LEP was closing the economic inactivity gap with England excluding London. The gap however, has widened due to the impact of Covid-19. Within the North East LEP the economic inactivity rate is highest in Sunderland.

Economic inactivity net change by sex and reason (2020 to 2021)

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Source: Annual Population Survey (Nomis, last updated 12 Apr 2022)

Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, rolling 12-month periods, updated each quarter, North East LEP

Economic inactivity rate North East LEP and England excluding London (2014-2021)

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North East LEP

Source: Annual Population Survey (Nomis, last updated 12 Apr 2022)

Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, rolling 12-month periods, updated each quarter, North East LEP and England excluding London

Economic inactivity rate by Local Authority (Jan - Dec 2021)

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Source: Annual Population Survey (Nomis, last updated 12 Apr 2022)

Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, rolling 12-month periods, updated each quarter, North East LEP and England excluding London

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Real GDP growth has been slow in the North East LEP compared to nationally, especially since the 2008 recession. GDP per head is highest in Newcastle partially due to the inflow of commuters to the city. The impact of Covid-19 has yet to be reflected in these figures.

Inflation adjusted GDP per head North East LEP and England excluding London (1998 - 2019)

GDP per head by North East LEP local authority (2019)

Productivity

The North East’s productivity is similar to most of the Core Cities, which generally also have relatively low productivity. Productivity growth in the North East LEP area has yet to fully close the gap compared to England excluding London. Within the North East LEP area, productivity is highest in Sunderland due to the highly productive automotive cluster.

GVA per hour worked (£), Core Cities, 2019

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Office for National Statistics

Data information: Based on LEP area, ITL3 area, national and regional data. Chart shows current price (unsmoothed) GVA (B) per hour worked data. In the North East, three ITL areas are each made up of a single local authority area (Northumberland, Sunderland and County Durham) and the other, Tyneside, is made up of four (Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside).

GVA per hour worked (£), from 2008, North East LEP, England excluding London

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Office for National Statistics

Source: Subregional productivity in the UK (ONS, last updated 20 Jun 2023, next update summer 2024). England excluding London data (North East LEP analysis)
Data information: Based on North East LEP area, national and regional data. Chart shows current price (unsmoothed) GVA (B) per hour worked data.

GVA per hour worked in the North East LEP area was £7.5 lower in the North East LEP area in 2019 than in England excluding London.
Since 2004 productivity per hour worked has grown 2.3% per year in both the LEP area and England exc London, but the LEP area grew much more quickly between 2018 and 2019 (5% vs 2%).
The impact of Covid-19 has yet to be reflected in these figures. Recent national data suggests than manufacturing productivity has been negatively impacted since 2019. Due to the North East LEP’s specialisation in manufacturing it may be more adversely affected by this decline than elsewhere.

GVA per hour worked (£) by North East LEP ILT3 region (2019)

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