| 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.
Inverness West is a mainly urban Ward with a population density well above the Highland average. The Ward has a “narrow” age profile with one of the lowest proportions of children in Highland but the second highest proportion in the 16 to 49 age group. The total population fell by 3% between 2001 and 2005 with the biggest percentage fall in Highland in the under 16 age group: this is almost certainly the result of a maturing population with little housebuilding in this period and hence no inward migration. 2,300 overseas migrant workers moved to the Inverness city area between 2002 and 2006, 1,300 from eastern Europe, but the information does not allow a breakdown by Ward.
Total Population
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Total Population |
8,175
|
219,400
|
5,168,500
|
| Source: GRO(S)
2008
mid-year estimates |
Age Structure
| Age |
Ward (%) |
Highland (%) |
Scotland (%) |
Ward (No.) |
Highland (No.) |
Scotland (No.) |
| 0-15 |
14.7
|
17.8
|
17.7
|
1,199
|
39,114
|
913,534
|
| 16-49 |
45.5
|
42.1
|
46.6
|
3,723
|
92,414
|
2,410,263
|
| 50-64 |
21.8
|
21.9
|
19.1
|
1,782
|
48,009
|
988,160
|
| 65-74 |
9.1
|
10.0
|
9.0
|
745
|
21,887
|
463,364
|
| 75-84 |
6.1
|
6.1
|
5.7
|
495
|
13,434
|
292,696
|
| 85+ |
2.8
|
2.1
|
1.9
|
231
|
4,542
|
100,483
|
| Source: GRO(S)
2008
mid-year estimates |
Population Density
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Number of persons per square kilometre |
588.8
|
8.3
|
66.3
|
| Area (square kilometres) |
14
|
26,489
|
77,925
|
| Source: GRO(S)
2008
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 Inverness West is slightly above the Highland average
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Percentage of total population: |
|
|
|
| with a limiting long-term illness |
19.1
|
18.4
|
20.3
|
| without a limiting long-term illness |
80.9
|
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.
The total number of new homes built during the last five years was below average, mostly towards the end of the period. The Local Plan identifies sufficient land for this rate to continue, with no infrastructure constraints.
Number of households
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Number of households |
3,575
|
89,528
|
2,192,246
|
| Source:
Census 2001
|
House Prices
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Number of private house sales in
2008
|
155
|
3,276
|
85,937
|
| Average house price |
£143,757
|
£170,158
|
£169,706
|
| Median (midpoint) house price |
£130,000
|
£153,200
|
£140,000
|
| Source: Communities Scotland/Registers of Scotland
2008
|
House Completions
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Number of house completions between
2005-2009
|
178
|
7,749
|
n/a
|
| Average number of completions per year |
36
|
1,550
|
n/a
|
| Source: Highland Council |
Housing Land Audit
| |
Ward |
Highland |
| Number of new homes* that potentially will be built between
2008-2011
: |
631
|
17,575
|
* 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 |
439
|
13,679
|
325,553
|
| Source: Highland Council / Scottish Executive
2009/10
|
Housing Tenure
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Percentage of households that are: |
|
|
|
| owner occupied |
73.9
|
65.7
|
62.6
|
| rented from the Council/Scottish Homes |
14.2
|
18.0
|
21.6
|
| rented from housing association |
3.3
|
3.6
|
5.6
|
| privately rented |
6.2
|
8.5
|
6.7
|
| other |
2.3
|
4.2
|
3.5
|
| Source:
Census 2001
|
Housing Occupancy
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Percentage of housing stock that is: |
|
|
|
| occupied |
96.9
|
89.8
|
94.9
|
| second/holiday homes |
0.4
|
6.2
|
1.3
|
| vacant |
2.7
|
4.0
|
3.8
|
| Percenatges are based on housing stock figures of
3,689
(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.
9% of workers in Inverness West are self -employed (Census 2001), one of the lowest proportions in Highland. The Ward has the highest proportion of jobs in the public sector in Highland, and the lowest proportion in tourism.
Number of People in Employment
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Number of people in employment * |
4,100
|
109,300
|
2,420,400
|
* Rounded to nearest 100 people Source:
Annual Business Inquiry 2008
|
Employment by Sector
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Percentage of people employed in: |
|
|
|
| Agriculture & fishing |
0.5
|
1.7
|
1.7
|
| Energy & water |
0.0
|
0.8
|
1.8
|
| Manufacturing |
0.6
|
8.0
|
8.7
|
| Construction |
3.3
|
6.7
|
5.9
|
| Distribution, hotels and restaurants |
5.1
|
25.6
|
22.2
|
| Transport and communications |
1.3
|
6.0
|
5.1
|
| Banking, finance & insurance, etc. |
11.1
|
14.9
|
19.1
|
| Public admin., education & health |
62.6
|
31.1
|
30.0
|
| Other services |
15.5
|
5.3
|
5.4
|
| Source:
Annual Business Inquiry 2008
|
Economic Activity
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Percentage of 16-74 year olds * |
|
|
|
| Economically active |
72.4
|
68.1
|
65.0
|
| Full-time employees |
46.0
|
38.9
|
40.3
|
| Part-time employees |
14.0
|
12.9
|
11.1
|
| Self employed |
6.2
|
10.2
|
6.6
|
| Full-time student |
2.3
|
1.8
|
3.0
|
| Unemployed |
3.8
|
4.3
|
4.0
|
| * total 16-74 year olds |
6,311
|
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 |
27.7
|
26.1
|
24.7
|
| Group 2 |
16.4
|
15.3
|
15.7
|
| Group 3 |
7.3
|
6.4
|
7.0
|
| Group 4 |
16.8
|
19.6
|
19.5
|
| No qualifications |
31.8
|
32.6
|
33.2
|
| * total 16-74 year olds |
6,311
|
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.
Unemployment and long term unemployment claim rates are below the Highland average but the Incapacity Benefit claim rate is above average. The Council Tax Benefit claim rate is slightly below the Highland average.
Latest unemployment rates (
January 2010
)
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Unemployment rate * |
3.5
|
3.5
|
4.7
|
| Long term unemployment rate ** |
0.8
|
0.9
|
1.5
|
* 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
January 2010
) |
 |
| Figure 2: Long-term Unemployment Rates (October 2004 to
January 2010
) |
 |
Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disability Allowance (
August 2009
)
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disability Allowance claimant rate * |
8.2
|
6.6
|
7.9
|
* 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
August 2009
) |
 |
Council Tax Benefit (
2004
)
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Number of claimants |
580
|
17,475
|
518,935
|
| Council Tax Benefit take-up rate * |
15.2
|
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 and the proportion of people classed as income deprived is slightly below the Highland average but the proportion who are employment deprived is just above the average. Average household incomes are below the Highland average.
| |
Ward |
Highland |
Scotland |
| Number of income deprived people * |
1,110
|
30,195
|
879,190
|
| Percentage of income deprived people * |
13.6
|
13.8
|
17.0
|
| Number of employment deprived people * |
575
|
12,925
|
390,665
|
| Percentage of employment deprived people * |
6.1
|
5.0
|
6.4
|
| Number of candidate Data Zones for Regeneration Funding |
0
|
16
|
976
|
| Average annual income ** |
£31,615
|
£31,727
|
£33,220
|
| Percentage of households earning less than £10k per year ** |
3.8
|
8.6
|
8.4
|
* Source: Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
2009
** Source: CACI Paycheck
2008
|
| Population | Households & Housing Stock | Employment & Economic Activity |
| Unemployment & Benefits | Income & Deprivation |