NEWS this week of another fall in employment and rise in unemployment in the region is cause for concern, the North-East Chamber of Commerce said this week.

Employment in the North-East stands at 1,162,000 – a fall of 23,000 over the quarter but an increase of 5,000 over the year.

Regional unemployment stands at 108,000 or 8.5 per cent – a rise of 13,000 over the quarter but a fall of 18,000 over the year.