UNEMPLOYMENT stands at its lowest total for more than a decade but the North-East is still the UK’s jobless hotspot, according to a new report.

Latest figures show 1.2 million people are in work across the region, which marks a rise of 4,000 over the last year.

However, while unemployment has also dropped, the jobless number stands at 87,000, meaning the North- East’s rate of 6.8 per cent remains the UK’s highest.

Last night, the North East England Chamber of Commerce (NEECC) said good progress was being made but warned more must be done to reduce the “stubbornly high unemployment rate”.

According to Jobcentre Plus, that work is already underway, with schemes in place to help people into work and further some existing careers.

Diane Luke, Durham business support team manager, told The Northern Echo workshops are being held in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, to bring prospective workers, companies and training organisations together.

She added the employment landscape has also been boosted by new jobs at Seaham call centre firm ResQ and delivery company Yearsley Logistics, as well as posts at Lidl’s supermarket in Crook, County Durham.

Ms Luke also said the organisation had taken to digital platforms with greater gusto to help unite businesses and people.

She added: “We are doing an awful lot of digital channels; people are not looking to come in and see a card in a job centre (as they once used to).

“But we are still talking to people face-to-face too, that will never change.”

According to the unemployment findings, released by the Office for National Statistics, the UK’s jobless total was 1.6 million in the quarter to November, down by 52,000 on the previous three months to its lowest mark since early 2006.

The country now has one of the lowest jobless rates in Europe at 4.8 per cent.

However, the numbers in work fell by 9,000 to 31.8 million, the lowest since last autumn, though the country’s employment rate of 74.5 per cent was the joint-highest level on record.

Reflecting on the numbers, Paul Carbert, NEECC policy adviser, said the North-East figures were perhaps a wakeup call after months of positive news.

He said: “Our most recent quarterly economic survey shows the pace of workforce growth slowing.

“This is unsurprising after a long period of strong increases but underlines that continued good news on jobs can’t be taken for granted.

“We know there is more work to do to build a working North-East and reduce our stubbornly high unemployment rate, which remains the highest in the UK.

“This year, we will work with members to ensure our region benefits from increased funding for apprenticeships, and campaign for new funding models to open up opportunities for the unemployed.”