Little change in Sunderland job figures, new data shows

The number of people looking for work in Sunderland remained virtually static last month.

There were 5,485 people claiming Out of Work Benefits inthecitylastmonth,upbyjust tenontheNovemberfigure,but down 120 over the year.

Across the North East, employment stands at 1,229,000 or 72.2% – an increase of 11,000 over the quarter and 34,000 over the year. This compares to a rate of 75.3% nationally.

North East unemployment is 68,000 or 5.2% – a fall of 7,000 over the quarter and 20,000 over the year – compared to a rate of 4.3% nationally.

The claimant count stands at 54,900 or 4.4% in the North East. The national claimant count rate is 2.4%.

North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Senior Economist Victoria Sutherland said: “We are pleased to see that employment continues to grow across the North East region. Today’s data shows the number of people in employment has grown by 34,000 over the last year, with 11,000 more people in work over the quarter.

“Once a quarter we get more detailed statistics than in other months and today is one of those occasions. These additionaldatashowthatthere has been growth in service sector jobs of 24,000 over the year.

“Within that, we are particularly pleased to see growth in the information and communications sector, which includes many of the region’s digital companies, and growth in professional, scientific and technical activities.

“We are also pleased to see that the manufacturing sector, which has always played a critical role in the North East economy, has grown, with 8,000 more jobs over the year.”