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North East tops unemployment figures

The North East has topped unemployment levels, as today’s national figures show 2.62m are out of work.

UK unemployment was shown to have risen by 129,000 since September, and the North East has now reached 11.6% unemployment.

The Office for National Statistics revealed that between July and September, 20,000 more people were unemployed in the region than in the previous quarter.

National youth statistics stood out, as the number of 16-24 year-olds out of work hit a record high of 1.02 million in the quarter.

This number also includes 286,000 people in full time education, who are looking for part-time work.

The total of out-of-work young people increased by 67,000 in the three months to September.

Commenting on the figures, James Rambotham, NECC chief executive, said: “Although not unexpected, today’s news on unemployment levels both on a regional level, and youth unemployment, follows an increasingly worrying trend.

“The North East continues to feel the impact of public sector cuts, but we have seen signs that the private sector is picking up the slack with the lear Corporation creating up to 400 jobs in Houghton; SSI recruitment underway with the workforce now up to 800; Tata Steel investing £2m in wind turbine manufacturing at Hartlepool and Nissan currently employing more people than ever during its time on Wearside, having taken on over 1,200 extra staff during the last two years.

“Hopefully today’s announcement of support for companies wanting to access the benefits of apprenticeships will also go some way to tackling the growing issue of youth unemployment.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .