Ward Statistics


| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |


Population

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.

Caol and Mallaig is one of our larger Wards with a below average population density and a population profile which is similar to the Highland average. The overall population fell fractionally between 2001 and 2005 with significant falls in parts of Caol balanced by inward migration to the rural areas with the coastal area popular with house buyers from outside Highland. 500 overseas migrant workers moved Caol and Fort William between 2002 and 2006, 300 from eastern Europe.

Total Population

  Ward Highland Scotland
Total Population 7,632 215,310 5,116,900
Source: GRO(S) 2006 mid-year estimates

Age Structure

Age Ward (%) Highland (%) Scotland (%) Ward (No.) Highland (No.) Scotland (No.)
0-15 18.7 18.5 18.2 1,422 39,392 921,833
16-49 41.6 42.6 46.9 3,138 91,485 2,397,345
50-64 22.0 21.3 18.5 1,690 46,396 959,754
65-74 11.1 9.7 9.0 828 20,786 455,744
75-84 5.0 6.0 5.6 422 12,997 287,021
85+ 1.7 1.9 1.8 132 4,254 95,203
Source: GRO(S) 2006 mid-year estimates

Population Density

  Ward Highland Scotland
Number of persons per square kilometre 3.7 8.1 65.7
Area (square kilometres) 2,065 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. The rate of self-reported long term illness in Caol and Mallaig is slightly lower than the Highland average.

  Ward Highland Scotland
Percentage of total population:      
with a limiting long-term illness 17.6 18.4 20.3
without a limiting long-term illness 82.4 81.6 79.7
Source: Census 2001


| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |


Households & Housing Stock

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 relatively low number of new homes were built in Lochaber during the last five years. We currently have a low number of Sites allocated in the Local Plan, with two thirds requiring improvements to Scottish Water infrastructure before they can be started. However, a new Plan is being prepared and we hope that local issues such as ownership and ground conditions can be overcome leading to an adequate future supply of land.

Number of households

  Ward Highland Scotland
Number of households 3,360 89,528 2,192,246
Source: Census 2001

House Prices

  Ward Highland Scotland
Number of private house sales in 2006 98 3,921 110,604
Average house price £139,135 £147,217 £141,830
Median (midpoint) house price £117,000 £130,000 £114,000
Source: Communities Scotland/Registers of Scotland 2006

House Completions

  Ward Highland Scotland
Number of house completions between 2002-2007 256 8,547 n/a
Average number of completions per year 43 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 155 1,422
unconstrained by infrastructure 114 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 575 14,889 351,925
Source: Highland Council / Scottish Executive 2007

Housing Tenure

  Ward Highland Scotland
Percentage of households that are:      
owner occupied 60.8 65.7 62.6
rented from the Council/Scottish Homes 21.6 18.0 21.6
rented from housing association 4.5 3.6 5.6
privately rented 8.1 8.5 6.7
other 5.0 4.2 3.5
Source: Census 2001

Housing Occupancy

  Ward Highland Scotland
Percentage of housing stock that is:      
occupied 87.7 89.8 94.9
second/holiday homes 9.4 6.2 1.3
vacant 2.9 4.0 3.8
Percenatges are based on housing stock figures of 3,833 (Ward), 99,739 (Highland) and 2,308,939 (Scotland) from the Census 2001


| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |


Employment & Economic Activity

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.

16% of workers in Caol and Mallaig are self employed (Census 2001), which is around the Highland average. The proportion of jobs in manufacturing is the second highest in Highland, the proportion in banking and finance is the lowest in Highland, and the proportion in the public sector the second lowest.

Number of People in Employment

  Ward Highland Scotland
Number of people in employment * 3,400 104,800 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 3.1 3.6 1.5
Energy & water 0.4 0.7 1.6
Manufacturing 18.1 8.9 9.4
Construction 2.5 6.5 5.8
Distribution, hotels and restaurants 36.4 26.7 22.4
Transport and communications 6.5 4.5 5.1
Banking, finance & insurance, etc. 3.9 11.3 18.3
Public admin., education & health 22.8 32.8 30.4
Other services 2.4 4.9 5.4
Source: Annual Business Inquiry 2006

Economic Activity

  Ward Highland Scotland
Percentage of 16-74 year olds *      
Economically active 69.8 68.1 65.0
Full-time employees 38.6 38.9 40.3
Part-time employees 14.9 12.9 11.1
Self employed 11.4 10.2 6.6
Full-time student 1.6 1.8 3.0
Unemployed 3.3 4.3 4.0
* total 16-74 year olds 6,047 152,675 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 13.5 15.3 15.7
Group 3 4.7 6.4 7.0
Group 4 17.1 19.6 19.5
No qualifications 37.9 32.6 33.2
* total 16-74 year olds 6,047 152,675 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 |


Unemployment & Benefits

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.

Caol and Mallaig has the highest dependency on seasonal employment in Highland with the result that unemployment shows a significant seasonal variation. Unemployment is well below the Highland average for most of the year and long term unemployment is low. The Incapacity Benefit Claim rate is close to the Highland average and the Council Tax Benefit claim rate just above the average.

Latest unemployment rates ( June 2008 )

  Ward Highland Scotland
Unemployment rate * 0.8 1.6 2.3
Long term unemployment rate ** 0.0 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 June 2008 )
Graph showing unemployment rates

 

Figure 2: Long-term Unemployment Rates (October 2004 to June 2008 )
Graph showing long-term unemployment rates

Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disability Allowance ( November 2007 )

  Ward Highland Scotland
Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disability Allowance claimant rate * 7.0 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 )
Graph showing Incapacity / Severe Disability Allowance claimant rates

Council Tax Benefit ( 2004 )

  Ward Highland Scotland
Number of claimants 635 17,475 518,935
Council Tax Benefit take-up rate * 17.8 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 |


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 and the proportion of people classed as employment deprived and income deprived are both slightly below the Highland average. Average household incomes are below the Highland average.

  Ward Highland Scotland
Number of income deprived people * 811 23,874 707,728
Percentage of income deprived people * 10.6 11.1 13.8
Number of employment deprived people * 416 13,552 409,907
Percentage of employment deprived people * 9.1 10.6 12.9
Number of candidate Data Zones for Regeneration Funding 0 17 976
Average annual income ** £28,387 £30,570 £31,406
Percentage of households earning less than £10k per year ** 11.0 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 Caol and Mallaig Multi-Member Ward at the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website by clicking the link below:

 

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