North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Senior Economist Victoria Sutherland gave her reaction to yesterday’s regional labour market statistics.
“We are pleased that today’s data shows that employment continues to rise in the North East.
“The number of people in the North East in work has increased 2,000 over the quarter and 27,000 over the year.
“There has been particularly strong growth in employment in professional, scientific and technical activities (such as law, accountancy and architecture); accommodation and food services (such as hotels, restaurants and bars); agriculture, forestry and fishing; and arts, entertainment and recreation.
“The increase in employment opportunities has resulted in the number of people that are unemployed falling. The unemployment rate for 16 to 64 year olds is now 5.0%, compared to 6.7% a year ago and 8.0% two years ago.
“The North East has experienced the largest decrease in its unemployment rate of all English regions over the last year. It was also the region with the largest increase in its employment rate.
“Whilst our progress is great news, there is still more to be done. The North East LEP will continue to work with its partners to deliver the Strategic Economic Plan’s ambition of more and better jobs for the region.”