UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen for the first time in 18 months, figures showed yesterday.
Nationally, the number of people out of work fell by 7,000 in the three months to October to 1.7 million, although the total is still almost 200,000 higher than a year ago.
In the North-East, the rate was 83,000 for the quarter, down 2,000 compared to the three months to September and up 4,000 year-on-year. The North-East's unemployment rate of 6.9 per cent is still the highest of any region outside London.
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