Unemployment is back on the rise in Hartlepool

The number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Hartlepool rose last month - but was lower than 12 months ago.

There were 2,029 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance – paid only to those classed as actively looking for work – in the town in December, up from 1,971 the previous month.

But the picture year-on-year was more healthy, with the claimant count down by more than 500 since December last year.

The number of claimants was down month-on-month in Easington, Sedgefield and Stockton North in December.

Jobcentre Plus’ Janet McKee said Hartlepool College would be hosting an event from jobseekers on January 29, with a wide range of help and support on offer.

“Barclays will be on hand to offer mock interviews and HMRC will be there to offer tax advice,” she said.

Across the region, the claimant count stood at 47,700, or 3.9%, compared to a national rate of 2.3%.

Paul Carbert, policy advisor at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “After the particularly worrying labour statistics released towards the end of last year, it certainly looks as though our region is starting to turn a corner.

“The North East has seen the largest rise in employment in the country.”

North East LEP economist Fiona Thom said: “Economic inactivity has also fallen in the last three months as more people move into employment, which is good news.”