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North East LEP reaction to ONS regional labour market statistics

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Chief Executive, Helen Golightly OBE, has commented on today’s regional labour market statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The release includes data for the North East statistical region for the second quarter of 2023 (March to June). The region includes the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) area and Tees Valley.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East LEP, said: “The North East jobs market has made incredible progress over the past year. Today’s data shows that employment in the North East region has increased by over 60,000 in the past 12 months. Although still lower than England as a whole, the working age employment rate is at its highest level since comparable records started over thirty years ago. The North East unemployment and working age economic inactivity rates are at their lowest levels.”

“It’s particularly pleasing that almost three-quarters of the increase in the North East’s employment in the last year has been due to increased female employment.”

“But we know there are still issues to address. Employment among male workers aged 25 to 34 and 50 to 64 decreased over the year, there has been a continued increase in long term sickness, and last week’s publication of the Local Skill Improvement Plan for North of Tyne tells us there are still skills gaps which need addressing.”

“The improvement we’ve seen is testament to North East businesses, who continue to create jobs in the face of difficult economic conditions. For our part, we at the North East LEP remain committed to supporting the creation of more and better jobs in the region, and we’ll be working to make sure improvements are felt across the region, that the voice of business is heard as we prepare for greater devolution in the North East, and that the region’s firms have the best possible environment in which to thrive.”  

Further labour market analysis can be found on the North East Evidence Hub.

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North East Local Enterprise Partnership reaction to ONS regional labour market statistics July 2019

North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Senior Economist Victoria Sutherland gave her reaction to today’s regional labour market statistics.

“Today’s figures show a broadly stable picture. The number of people in employment in the North East region, including Tees Valley, is 4,000 higher than in the last quarter – this is a small increase but one that we welcome, especially given recent volatility here and elsewhere.

“Compared with the same period last year, again we see a small increase, with 2,000 more people in employment.

“In terms of unemployment and economic inactivity, levels of unemployment have remained steady compared with the last quarter. Economic inactivity, which is measured as people aged 16 to 64 who are not in work and are not looking for work, has remained broadly stable over both the last quarter and the last year.

“Across the rest of the North we can see that there have been large decreases in the number of people in employment during the last quarter. This illustrates the uncertainty within the economy.

“Also released today is data showing employment trends for the North East LEP area only. Creating 100,000 more and better jobs in the North East LEP area by 2024 is a key target of the North East Strategic Economic Plan. Today’s figures show that, since 2014, 74,900 jobs have been added to the North East economy – meaning that we are 75% of the way towards achieving our target.

“The team here at the North East LEP will continue to work with our partners to deliver the Strategic Economic Plan and its ambition of more and better jobs for people here in our region.”