UNEMPLOYMENT in the North East has risen, official figures have revealed.
The data, released by the Government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), show the region’s unemployment rate is the highest in the UK.
The number of people without jobs increased by 4,000 in the three months to January to 127,000.
The region’s unemployment rate was 9.8% -–the highest in the UK – and saw a rise of 2.4% during the period.
Unemployment nationwide has increased for the first time in a year, delivering a pre-Budget blow to the Government.
The announcement ended up a run of reductions, both locally and nationally, with the increase in joblessness cause by more 18 to 24-year-olds becoming unemployed.
Joblessness rose in all of the Northern regions, but fell in London, leading to accusations of a widening in the North-South divide.
Ed Cox, IPPR North director, said: “The rise in unemployment in Northern regions make it clear that we are a long way off any sense of recovery outside London and yet there is such potential in Northern towns and cities. Budget announcements about regional growth and infrastructure investment are too little too late. We need a much more comprehensive and rapid response to the Heseltine and Northern Economic Futures Commission reports starting April 2013 not April 2015.”
Nationally, unemployment has increased for the first time in a year.
The jobless total jumped by 7,000 to 2.52 million, ending a run of reductions, with all the increase caused by more 18 to 24-year-olds becoming unemployed.
The total is still 152,000 lower than a year ago, while the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell in February by 1,500 to 1.54 million, the fourth consecutive monthly reduction.
There were 993,000 jobless 16 to 24-year-olds in the latest quarter to January, up by 48,000 from the three months to October, but the rise among 18 to 24-year-olds was 53,000.
Lottie Dexter, director of youth unemployment campaign Million Jobs, said: “The latest statistics show that damaging youth unemployment has continued to rise and is creeping ever closer to the million mark. This is not a blip but part of a worrying trend.
“We cannot continue like this and there can be no more shallow excuses. If we ignore our young unemployed then we leave our economy and society to wither on the vine. Unemployment, especially when you’re young, hurts. A year out of work when you’re young and you might never catch up. It breaks families and sinks communities, not to mention the cost to the Exchequer.”
Employment in private companies increased by 151,000 to 24m.
Mark Hoban, Minister for Employment, said: “It’s a credit to businesses that the private sector is employing one and a quarter million more people than when this Government took office. There are still tough challenges ahead which is why we’re working hard to give jobseekers all the help and support they need.”
