Employment by sector

The key source of information about the split of employment by detailed industry sector is the annual Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES). This gives information about the number of employees and working owners in businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE purposes. The data is available for very detailed industry sectors and very small geographic areas. However, it does not include all employment as it omits self-employed workers in unregistered businesses as well as HM Forces employees and Government Supported trainees. 

According to BRES, in 2019, the six largest employing sectors in the North East LEP area were responsible for over three-fifths of employment:

• Health (15.1%)
• Retail (10.6%)
• Manufacturing (10.1%)
• Education (9.2%)
• Accommodation and food services (8.0%)
• Business administration & support services (7.5%)

Whilst the pattern of employment in the North East LEP area in 2019 was similar to that in England excluding London, key differences include:

• Larger proportions of employment in the North East in public administration and defence; health; manufacturing; and retail   
• Smaller proportions in professional, scientific and technical activities; wholesale; and business administration and support. 

In the North East in 2019, the proportions of full-time and part-time employees varied a lot by sector:

• In four sectors, 85% or more of those in employment were full-time employees:
  • manufacturing; 
  • mining, quarrying and utilities; 
  • information and communication
  • wholesale
• In four other sectors, 50% or more of those in employment were part-time employees:
  • accommodation and food services; 
  • retail; 
  • arts, entertainment and recreation; 
  • other services (including personal and repair services)
• In agriculture, forestry and fishing, well over half of those in employment were working owners and there were also relative high proportions in construction and the motor trades.