UNEMPLOYMENT has gone up for the first time in almost a year, and the North-East remains the UK’s jobless blackspot, new figures have revealed.

The region’s unemployment rate increased by 1,000 to 104,000 in the three months to February, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The figure means the regions’ jobless rate stands at eight per cent, higher than any other area in the country.

Figures showed the UK’s average rate is 5.1 per cent, with the country’s overall unemployment up 21,000 to 1.7 million.

The rise is the first increase since the May-July period last year and Nick Palmer, ONS statistician, warned growth in the job market could be tailing off.

He added: “It's too soon to be certain but, with unemployment up for the first time since mid-2015, and employment seeing its slowest rise since that period, it is possible recent improvements in the labour market may be easing off."

The figures also showed the number of women in work has fallen by 40,000.

According to the ONS’ findings, the East of England has the lowest unemployment rate – 3.5 per cent - followed by the South-East and South-West at 3.8 per cent.

Yorkshire and the Humber’s rate stands at 6.3 per cent.

However, Stephen Crabb, Work and Pensions Secretary, said the figures show the UK employment market is still strong.

He added: “We remain in a position of strength, with a record employment rate, wages continuing to grow steadily and three-quarters of a million vacancies available in the labour market.

“Work is essential in transforming the lives of the most disadvantaged people in society and is at the heart of our welfare reforms.

"We are committed to ensuring that everyone across the country benefits from our strong economy and the opportunities this brings.”

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