| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |
The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) supplies us with annual population estimates for small areas which we build up to give totals and changes at Ward level. These estimates aim to exclude short term migrants.
Thurso is a relatively compact urban Ward with a high population density. The overall population profile is very similar to the Highland profile. The population of the Ward fell by 4% between 2001 and 2005, the second highest rate of decline in Highland. 25 highly skilled overseas migrant workers moved into the Ward between 2002 and 2006. No eastern European migrants have been recorded but some will have moved with Agencies and are registered elsewhere.
Total Population
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
Total Population |
7,377
|
215,310
|
5,116,900
|
| Source: GRO(S)
2006
mid-year estimates |
Age Structure
| Age
| Ward (%)
| Highland (%)
| Scotland (%)
| Ward (No.)
| Highland (No.)
| Scotland (No.)
|
| 0-15 |
18.3
|
18.5
|
18.2
|
1,352
|
39,392
|
921,833
|
| 16-49 |
43.5
|
42.6
|
46.9
|
3,170
|
91,485
|
2,397,345
|
| 50-64 |
19.1
|
21.3
|
18.5
|
1,409
|
46,396
|
959,754
|
| 65-74 |
10.9
|
9.7
|
9.0
|
814
|
20,786
|
455,744
|
| 75-84 |
6.4
|
6.0
|
5.6
|
484
|
12,997
|
287,021
|
| 85+ |
1.7
|
1.9
|
1.8
|
148
|
4,254
|
95,203
|
| Source: GRO(S)
2006
mid-year estimates |
Population Density
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Number of persons per square kilometre |
659.9
|
8.1
|
65.7
|
| Area (square kilometres) |
11
|
26,489
|
77,925
|
| Source: GRO(S)
2006
mid-year estimates |
Health
This Census response is one of the best simple measures we have of the health of our population. Thurso has a relatively low rate of self-reported long term illness.
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Percentage of total population: |
|
|
|
| with a limiting long-term illness |
17.3
|
18.4
|
20.3
|
| without a limiting long-term illness |
82.7
|
81.6
|
79.7
|
| Source:
Census 2001
|
| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |
The following tables provide information on housing and household tenure in this Ward. Housing completions provide us with a picture of the growth of the local area whilst housing tenure and occupancy examine the nature of housing in the Ward.
A low number of new homes were built in Thurso during the last five years. The Local Plan also shows a modest supply of land zoned for housing development within the next four years but more sites will be available in the longer term. The overall supply is adequate and there are no Scottish Water infrastructure constraints.
Number of households
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Number of households |
3,538
|
89,528
|
2,192,246
|
| Source:
Census 2001
|
House Prices
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Number of private house sales in
2006
|
145
|
3,921
|
110,604
|
| Average house price |
£83,403
|
£147,217
|
£141,830
|
| Median (midpoint) house price |
£75,000
|
£130,000
|
£114,000
|
| Source: Communities Scotland/Registers of Scotland
2006
|
House Completions
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Number of house completions between
2002-2007
|
219
|
8,547
|
n/a
|
| Average number of completions per year |
37
|
1,425
|
n/a
|
| Source: Highland Council |
Housing Land Audit
|
| Ward
| Highland
|
| Number of new homes* that potentially will be built between
2007-2011
which are: |
|
|
| constrained by water supply and/or sewerage infrastructure |
0
|
1,422
|
| unconstrained by infrastructure |
139
|
5,445
|
* identified in the Local Plan or with planning permission
Source: Highland Council |
Further information about the Housing Land Audit is available on the Housing Land Audit webpage.
Number of Council Houses
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Number of Council owned houses |
646
|
14,889
|
351,925
|
| Source: Highland Council / Scottish Executive
2007
|
Housing Tenure
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Percentage of households that are: |
|
|
|
| owner occupied |
60.2
|
65.7
|
62.6
|
| rented from the Council/Scottish Homes |
20.6
|
18.0
|
21.6
|
| rented from housing association |
12.0
|
3.6
|
5.6
|
| privately rented |
4.8
|
8.5
|
6.7
|
| other |
2.5
|
4.2
|
3.5
|
| Source:
Census 2001
|
Housing Occupancy
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Percentage of housing stock that is: |
|
|
|
| occupied |
96.2
|
89.8
|
94.9
|
| second/holiday homes |
0.7
|
6.2
|
1.3
|
| vacant |
3.2
|
4.0
|
3.8
|
| Percenatges are based on housing stock figures of
3,679
(Ward),
99,739
(Highland) and
2,308,939
(Scotland) from the
Census 2001
|
| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |
The following series of tables provide information on employment status and the types of industries that provide jobs in the Ward. This information provides us with an understanding of the nature of employment within the Ward.
Only 8% of all workers in Thurso are self employed (Census 2001), the lowest rate in Highland, but there is high reliance on part time jobs. The economy is dominated by Dounreay and spin-off industries and a relatively high proportion of jobs are in banking & finance.
Number of People in Employment
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Number of people in employment * |
3,100
|
104,800
|
2,370,600
|
* Rounded to nearest 100 people
Source:
Annual Business Inquiry 2006
|
Employment by Sector
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Percentage of people employed in: |
|
|
|
| Agriculture & fishing |
0.2
|
3.6
|
1.5
|
| Energy & water |
0.0
|
0.7
|
1.6
|
| Manufacturing |
2.9
|
8.9
|
9.4
|
| Construction |
2.7
|
6.5
|
5.8
|
| Distribution, hotels and restaurants |
32.1
|
26.7
|
22.4
|
| Transport and communications |
7.5
|
4.5
|
5.1
|
| Banking, finance & insurance, etc. |
12.6
|
11.3
|
18.3
|
| Public admin., education & health |
36.3
|
32.8
|
30.4
|
| Other services |
4.9
|
4.9
|
5.4
|
| Source:
Annual Business Inquiry 2006
|
Economic Activity
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Percentage of 16-74 year olds * |
|
|
|
| Economically active |
67.7
|
68.1
|
65.0
|
| Full-time employees |
43.7
|
38.9
|
40.3
|
| Part-time employees |
12.5
|
12.9
|
11.1
|
| Self employed |
5.6
|
10.2
|
6.6
|
| Full-time student |
2.3
|
1.8
|
3.0
|
| Unemployed |
3.6
|
4.3
|
4.0
|
| * total 16-74 year olds |
5,936
|
152,675
|
3,731,079
|
Economically active people are defined as those aged 16 to 74 who are working, actively looking for work or full-time students
Source:
Census 2001
|
Qualifications
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Percentage of 16-74 year olds* whose highest qualification is: |
|
|
|
| Group 1 |
26.9
|
26.1
|
24.7
|
| Group 2 |
15.0
|
15.3
|
15.7
|
| Group 3 |
10.3
|
6.4
|
7.0
|
| Group 4 |
15.6
|
19.6
|
19.5
|
| No qualifications |
32.1
|
32.6
|
33.2
|
| * total 16-74 year olds |
5,936
|
152,675
|
3,731,079
|
Group 1: 'O' Grade, Standard Grade, Intermediate I or 2, City & Guilds Craft, SVQ level 1 or 2 or equivalent
Group 2: Higher Grade, CSYS, ONC, OND, City & Guilds Advanced Craft, RSA Advanced Diploma, SVQ level 3 or equivalent
Group 3: HND, HNC RSA Higher Diploma, SVQ level 4 or 5 or equivalent
Group 4: First degree, Higher degree, Professional qualification
Source:
Census 2001
|
| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |
The following tables provide information about the rate of unemployment and those receiving both Incapacity and Council Tax Benefits. One feature of Highland life is that employment is often dependent on seasonal industries such as tourism, and employment rates vary through the year as people take up seasonal jobs but are unemployed for the rest of the year.
The unemployment rate is above the Highland average but the long term unemployment rate and Incapacity Benefit claim rates are both below the Highland average. The Council Tax Benefit claim rate is just below the Highland average.
Latest unemployment rates (
May 2008
)
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Unemployment rate * |
2.2
|
1.6
|
2.3
|
| Long term unemployment rate ** |
0.6
|
0.4
|
0.6
|
* Percentage of resident working age population claiming Job Seekers Allowance
** Percentage of resident working age population claiming Job Seekers Allowance for 6 months or more
Source: Department for Work and Pensions date from NOMIS |
| Figure 1: Unemployment Rates (October 2004 to
May 2008
) |
 |
| Figure 2: Long-term Unemployment Rates (October 2004 to
May 2008
) |
 |
Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disability Allowance (
November 2007
)
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disability Allowance claimant rate * |
8.0
|
7.9
|
9.6
|
* Percentage of resident working age population
Source: Department for Work and Pensions data from NOMIS |
| Figure 3: Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disability Allowance claimant rates (February 2004 to
November 2007
) |
 |
Council Tax Benefit (
2004
)
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Number of claimants |
600
|
17,475
|
518,935
|
| Council Tax Benefit take-up rate * |
16.1
|
17.0
|
21.8
|
* Percentage of working age population
Source: Department for Work and Pensions data from NOMIS |
Further information on unemployment in Highland is available on the Unemployment webpage.
| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |
The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, SIMD, is the Executive’s official measure for identifying small area concentrations of multiple deprivation. Household incomes are taken from CACI Paycheck, a commercial database based on lifestyle surveys and market research data, supplied by Communities Scotland to help with housing analysis.
No datazones within the Ward are identified as severely deprived but the proportion of people classed as employment deprived is slightly above the Highland average. Average household incomes are well above the Highland average, reflecting the Dounreay effect.
|
| Ward
| Highland
| Scotland
|
| Number of income deprived people * |
798
|
23,874
|
707,728
|
| Percentage of income deprived people * |
10.8
|
11.1
|
13.8
|
| Number of employment deprived people * |
512
|
13,552
|
409,907
|
| Percentage of employment deprived people * |
11.4
|
10.6
|
12.9
|
| Number of candidate Data Zones for Regeneration Funding |
0
|
17
|
976
|
| Average annual income ** |
£31,751
|
£30,570
|
£31,406
|
| Percentage of households earning less than £10k per year ** |
9.3
|
9.9
|
10.2
|
* Source: Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
2006
** Source: CACI Paycheck
2006
|
| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |
You can also view a profile of
Thurso
Multi-Member Ward at the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website by clicking the link below: