Richard Baker, North East LEP Head of Strategy and Policy, said: “Today’s ONS statistics for the North East mirror those of the national economic picture which suggest a slowing down in the UK labour market over the last quarter.
“Whilst the position remains much improved on the position a year ago, employment numbers are currently largely static overall. Unemployment has fallen again slightly, while the numbers of people economically inactive has increased.
“Within the employment figures for the region, one detail is that we are seeing an increase in the number of people in full-time work which is encouraging, with a drop off in the numbers of people in part-time and temporary work.”