UNEMPLOYMENT rates in the North-East dropped for the first time in several months yesterday as figures showed more people were in work.
Across the region, the unemployment rate now stands at 6.6 per cent - still higher than any region outside London.
The total number of people unemployed is 79,000. That number is 4,000 down on last month's quarterly figures.
In the Yorkshire and Humber region, unemployment was up by 8,000 to 122,000 - a rate of 4.9 per cent, the national average.
Across the UK, the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefit increased for the tenth month in a row.
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