Member Article

North East sees employment increase

There has been a considerable increase in the amount of people in work in the North East over the last few years, according to the latest official statistics. An additional 95,000 people are in jobs in the region than there were in 1998. The total number of people employed in the region now stands at 1,160,000, up 33,000 year-on-year and a 5% improvement on the 1998 figure of 1,065,000. Unemployment has risen by 4,000 year-on-year and now stands at 83,000.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics showed the number of people claiming benefits for more than 12 months had not decreased during 2006 and now stands at 7,900. The long-term benefit claimant number has risen 1,900 year-on-year and by 2,600 since November 2004.

Mike Parker, NECC spokesperson, said: “We continue to remain positive about the health of the North East economy and the numbers in employment prove that businesses are prospering. “The rising number of people on long-term benefits is a concern and we need to work to find ways in which we can help them back in to the workplace.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .