UNEMPLOYMENT in the North-East has remained steady over recent months, according to the latest figures.

The region's jobless total for the three months to June was 81,000 - unchanged from the previous month but down 5,000 on the previous year.

The region's jobless rate of 6.5 per cent is the second highest of all regions outside London. The number of people in employment was up 5,000 year-on-year at 1,171,000.

Nationally, unemployment fell by 45,000 between April and June to 1,650,000, while the number of people in employment climbed by 144,000 over the year to 29.07 million.