Contrasting Regions in the UK

In 2011, a quarter of all jobs in the north-east were in the public sector. Public sector jobs are being cut due to reduced government spending. Between 2010 and 2011, 32000 jobs were lost in the public sector. In 1971, manufacturing accounted for 40% of employment but by 1996, this had fallen to 24%

The chemicals industry is still important but employs fewer people due to automation. The Nissan car factory in Sunderland is an important part of the recovery of the area. It opened in 1986 and employs 4,000. Other industries include North Sea oil and gas plantations

Unemployment is fairly high - 10.3% as of 2013. In manufacturing, 95 000 people lost jobs, 108 000 miners lost jobs when the pits closed and 32 000 jobs were cut from the north east public sector. The north east suffered from the domino effect, when one industry collapses it leads to the collapse of others. This damages local businesses

The north east is England's worst income region with an average household income of £26,000 per year. The average full time weekly earnings are £443 which is because most work is in the public sector. The government wants to creat 50,000 new jobs by backing the core strengths of the local economy. £4.5 billion investment in transport could cut 35 minutes from a journey between Newcastle and Manchester. They want to boost tourism and the rural economy