Submitting.
The figures include those aged 16 to 64 on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some Universal Credit claimants, who are unemployed and seeking work or employed but with low earnings.
Those on benefits at the end of 2020 were among roughly 118,000 across the North East.
National figures show around 2.64 million people were seeking help at the start of December – up from 1.24 million in March.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “This crisis has gone on far longer than any of us hoped – and every job lost is a tragedy.
“Whilst the NHS is working hard to protect people with the vaccine, we’re throwing everything we’ve got at supporting businesses, individuals and families.”
Fresh wave of job losses expected in next few months, researchers say thecourier.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thecourier.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
New wave of UK job losses expected in coming months, researchers say New research suggests the UK could be about to see a fresh wave of job losses as business struggle to cope amid Covid-19 restrictions. A huge increase in bankruptcies for UK firms looms as business support programmes end, according to the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) and the Alliance for Full Employment (AFFE), with more than 900,000 small firms thought to be at risk. Almost 15%, more than one in seven, UK businesses are at risk of imminent closure, especially those with fewer than 10 employees, it was warned. The impact on employment is “grim”, warned the reports, with around 2.5 million jobs under threat from business closures.