Unemployment in the North East has risen for a fifth consecutive month, increasing the gap with the rest of the 海角视频 at a time of some of the lowest joblessness on record.
New figures compiling unemployment rates for the three months up to the end of last November show that it had risen to 80,000 in the North East, a rate of 6.2% compared to the national rate of just 3.8%.
The number of people out of work in the North East has risen by 10,000 in the last year at a time when it is falling nationally to stand at its lowest level since 1974. The region also had the lowest rate of employment in the 海角视频, and the second highest rate of economic inactivity.
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The figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) continue a trend which has seen the North East seemingly unaffected by the jobs miracle happening elsewhere in the country, with business groups calling for urgent action.
Rachel Anderson, assistant director of policy at the North East England Chamber of Commerce said: “These unemployment figures show a small but significant increase which has also played out across the North West, Yorkshire and West Midlands and most likely reflects the uncertainty affecting many sectors at the end of 2019.
“Job creation is a very pressing need and these statistics represent a clear call for investment. Our jobless figures remain stubbornly high again especially in relation to the rest of the country, primarily the South East.
“We don’t want another quarterly increase and this situation to become a strong trend. There are 10,000 more people out of work here over the last year than the previous year.
“Our region now has 80,000 unemployed people who could potentially contribute to our economy and we need to make sure their strengths are harnessed to grow the North East.”
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Victoria Sutherland, senior economist at the North East LEP, said: “The last year has been characterised by a high degree of fluctuation with labour market conditions improving in some quarters and deteriorating in others.
“This fluctuation has been observed in all regions and nations of the 海角视频, but the North East appears to have been particularly hard hit with the largest increase in unemployment rate over the last year. The North East is also one of only three English regions to have seen a decrease in its employment rate for 16 to 64-year olds.”
Ms Sutherland said longer term trends had shown an increase in ‘better jobs’ in the North East - defined by the LEP as managerial, professional and technical roles - at the same time as a decline in administrative and retail posts.
Nationally, the new figures showed that 3.8% of people who are looking for work do not have a job, largely unchanged on the previous quarter, and in line with expectations. However, the figure is 0.2 percentage points lower than a year earlier, meaning that unemployment is currently at its lowest level since December 1974.
It came as the 海角视频 employment rate grew to its highest point on record, at 76.3%, 0.6 percentage points higher than a year earlier and up 0.5 on the previous quarter.
Minister for employment Mims Davies said: “With unemployment at its lowest since the 1970s, our jobcentres go beyond getting people into work - they are about community and progression. Reaching out to more people, and supporting those in work to get ahead.”