An emergency task force has been set up to deal with "significant redundancies" caused by Brexit, according to an authority report.
The update on the North East Combined Authority's Brexit preparations outlined proposals to help the region weather the consequences of the UK's exit from the European Union.
One of these involves setting up a task force to deal with job losses and work with firms that find themselves in difficulty.
A representative from the combined authority said the task force would be made up of NECA, local enterprise partnerships, Job Centre Plus and local training providers.
He said the task force would respond to reports about lay-offs and also help firms who find themselves in difficulty.
In cases where redundancies can't be stopped, the task-force will work with the Job Centre and training providers to help people get back into work.
Another idea floated is the creation of a "free trade zone", for which a second study has now been commissioned.
This comes as central government invited ports across the North East to apply for "free port" status, potentially creating tens of thousands of jobs.
Free ports are areas of a country where tariffs do not apply, allowing companies to import goods, store them and re-export them without dealing with the tax authorities.
As previously reported by the Chronicle, a report claimed creating free ports that link with enterprise zones in the North East could create as many as 26,000 high-value jobs in the region and add £1.5bn a year to the local economy.
The moves - which would depend on leaving the EU Customs Union, something many business leaders in the North East oppose - have been outlined in a report for construction firm Mace compiled by former Treasury economist Chris Walker.
The report was heard at Tuesday's meeting of the Leadership Board.
Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council said the only thing he had "any degree of certainty" over was the leaving date.
He added: "We have been over taken by recent events and developments, the only thing we can say with any degree of certainty currently is that legally we will leave the EU on the 31st October.
"Work continues to assure the best level of preparedness."
