THE Government has hailed the latest unemployment figures which it says shows the North-East has seen the largest annual jobless fall in the country.

Official figures showed that unemployment nationally has dipped to a seven-year low of 1.83 million, although the latest quarterly cut of 35,000 was the smallest for almost two years.

The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance fell by 12,600 in April to 763,000, the 30th consecutive monthly reduction.

Employment continued to rise, up by 202,000 in the three months to March to more than 31 million, the highest since records began in 1971.

The UK now has an employment rate of 73.5 per cent, also a record, although for men the figure is even higher at 78.4 per cent.

The claimant count has fallen by around 350,000 in the past year, although last month's 12,600 was the smallest fall since March 2013.

Average earnings increased by 1.9 per cent in the year to March, up by 0.2 percentage points on the previous month, giving an average weekly wage of £489.

Minister of State for Employment, Priti Patel, said: “Our long-term economic plan is creating a better, more prosperous future for Britain, with employment at an all-time high and more women in work than ever before. 

"The North-East has seen the largest annual fall in the unemployment rate in the country and there are 14,000 more people in work. Behind the statistics are countless stories of individual hard work and determination – of people feeling more financially secure with a regular wage.

"I want to continue to ensure our welfare reforms are giving people the skills and opportunities to move into work to give everyone in our country the chance to make the most of their lives.”

Other data from the Office for National Statistics showed that almost nine million people were classed as economically inactive, including students, those looking after a family, on long-term sick leave or who had given up looking for work.

The total was down by 69,000 over the quarter, but little changed compared with a year ago.

Long-term unemployment has also fallen, down by 50,000 for those out of work for more than a year to 588,000.

The UK's unemployment rate of 5.5 per cent is the second-lowest in the European Union after Germany, and compares with the highest rates of 25 per cent in Greece and 23 per cent in Spain.

The number of job vacancies has increased by 9,000 to 733,000, almost 100,000 more than a year ago. A total of 110,000 people were made redundant in the quarter to March, 16,000 fewer than a year ago.

The number of people working part-time because they cannot find a full-time job increased by 8,000 in the latest quarter to 1.32 million.

Unemployment figures by region

North-East 96,000 minus 7,000 7.5%

North West 201,000 minus 28,000 5.7%

Yorkshire/Humber 177,000 plus 13,000 6.6%

East Midlands 115,000 no change 4.9%

West Midlands 178,000 plus 10,000 6.4%

East of England 137,000 minus 19,000 4.4%

London 285,000 minus 10,000 6.2%

South East 197,000 minus 15,000 4.2%

South West 119,000 minus 3,000 4.3%

Wales 99,000 no change 6.7%

Scotland 168,000 plus 19,000 6.0%

Northern Ireland 55,000 plus 6,000 6.2%