Edinburgh migration and commuting patterns

EDINBURGH

In 2001 the population of Edinburgh was 448,624, 66% of which were of working age.

MIGRATION

Table 1 below shows UK migration to and from Edinburgh in the year to the Census in 2001.

Table 1: Migration by total- and working-age population (UK only[1]), 2001.

Total out-migration / Total in-migration / Net migration
Total migration / 20,599 / 21,919 / +1,320
Working-age migration / 17,062 / 19.616 / +2,554
Source: Census Origin-Destination tables, 2001.

In the year to 2001 Edinburgh experienced an overall net in-migration of total and working-age population. Importantly working-age population has experienced a larger net in-migration than total population. However, it should be noted that the data do not take account of emigration to locations outside of the UK.

Figure 1 presents total in-migration to Edinburgh from the UK and overseas.

Figure 1: Total[2] in-migration to Edinburgh, 2001.

Of the total number of people migrating to Edinburgh (34,607) between 2000 and 2001 only 35% came from elsewhere in Scotland; 26% (8,987) came from England & Wales; 22% (7,077) came from a country outside the UK; and 14% from an unknown place of origin.

Figure 2 below shows in-migration to Edinburgh from other Scottish local authorities only.

Figure 2: Total in-migration to Edinburgh from Scottish local authorities, 2001

Of the 12,280 people migrating to Edinburgh in 2001 from elsewhere in Scotland, the highest proportion was from Fife (12%). The next most popular origins for migrants were the surrounding Lothians – contributing between 8-9% of migrants each.

Figure 3 below shows out-migrants from Edinburgh to other Scottish local authorities only.

Figure 3: Out-migration from Edinburgh to Scottish local authorities, 2001.

Of the 12,170 people moving out of Edinburgh to other Scottish areas, the highest proportion moved to adjoining West Lothian (16%). Fife (13%) and East Lothian (13%) were the next most popular destinations for out-migrants.

Figures 4 and 5 below show in and out-migration by age group.

Figure 4: In-migration[3] by age, 2001.
/ Figure 5: Out-migration[4] by age, 2001.

The largest groups migrating to Edinburgh are those aged 16-24 (43%) followed by 25-34 year olds (30%). For out-migration, the largest groups are 25-34 (32%) and 16-24 year olds (29%).

TRAVEL TO WORK PATTERNS

Table 2 below provides an overview of Edinburgh’s residents and workforce.

Table 2: Edinburgh residents and workforce, 2001.

No. / %
Total population / 448,624 / 100%
Working-age population / 295,643 / 66%
Total Edinburgh residents in employment / 202,913 / 100%
…who work in Edinburgh / 182,106 / 90%
...who are out-commuters / 20,807 / 10%
Total Edinburgh workforce / 264,723 / 100%
…who are Edinburgh residents / 182,106 / 69%
….who are in-commuters / 82,617 / 31%

Source: ONS: Mid-year population estimates and Origin-Destination statistics (Census 2001).

Table 2 shows that of the 295,643 working-age population 202,913 are in employment – 90% in Edinburgh and 10% outwith the area. Of the city’s 264,723 workforce, 69% are residents and 31% are in-commuters.

Table 3 shows where Edinburgh’s workforce lives.

Table 3: Place or residence of Edinburgh workforce, 2001.

Place of residence / Edinburgh workforce
No. of workforce / % of total workforce / % of total in-commuters
Edinburgh City / 182,106 / 69%
West Lothian / 18,458 / 7% / 22.3%
Midlothian / 17,700 / 7% / 21.4%
East Lothian / 16,162 / 6% / 19.6%
Fife / 11,333 / 4% / 13.7%
Falkirk / 4,737 / 2% / 5.7%
Scottish Borders / 3,467 / 1% / 4.2%
Glasgow City / 1,744 / 1% / 2.1%
North Lanarkshire / 1,692 / 1% / 2.0%
South Lanarkshire / 1,662 / 1% / 2.0%
Other Scottish LAs / 5,662 / 2.1% / 6.9%
Total workforce / 264,723 / 100.0% / 100.0%

Table 3 shows that after Edinburgh, West Lothian and Midlothian are the next largest suppliers of labour to the city – each accounting for 7% of the workforce.

Table 4 below shows where Edinburgh residents work.

Table 4: Place of work of Edinburgh residents, 2001.

Place of work / Edinburgh residents
No. of residents / % of total residents / % of total out-commuters
Edinburgh City / 182,106 / 89.7%
West Lothian / 5,862 / 2.9% / 28.2%
Midlothian / 4,100 / 2.0% / 19.7%
Fife / 2,694 / 1.3% / 12.9%
East Lothian / 2,307 / 1.1% / 11.1%
Glasgow City / 1,864 / 0.9% / 9.0%
Falkirk / 1,019 / 0.5% / 4.9%
North Lanarkshire / 548 / 0.3% / 2.6%
Stirling / 409 / 0.2% / 2.0%
Aberdeen City / 402 / 0.2% / 1.9%
Other Scottish LAs / 1,602 / 0.8% / 7.7%
Total residents / 202,913 / 100.0% / 100.0%

Table 4 shows that of all Edinburgh residents 89.7% work in Edinburgh itself - among the highest levels of local employment in the East of Scotland. 2.9% of Edinburgh residents travel to work in West Lothian. Only a very small proportion of city residents travel outwith the Lothians to work.

Table 5 below compares employment status of the total Edinburgh workforce to in-commuters.

Table 5: Employment status of Edinburgh workforce, 2001.

Employment status / Total workforce / % of total / In-commuters / % of in-commuters
Full-time / 215,706 / 81% / 71,370 / 86%
Part-time / 49,017 / 19% / 11,247 / 14%
Total / 264,723 / 100% / 82,617 / 100%
Employed / 240,233 / 91% / 79,381 / 96%
Self-employed / 24,490 / 9% / 3,236 / 4%
Total / 264,723 / 100% / 82,617 / 100%

Of those working in Edinburgh, 81% are employed full-time, however for in-commuters this rises to 86%. 91% of the workforce are employees, again this is higher for those in-commuting (96%). Therefore in-commuters to Edinburgh are slightly more likely to be full-time employees than residents working there.

Table 6 shows the employment status of all Edinburgh residents compared to out-commuters.

Table 6: Employment status of Edinburgh residents, 2001.

Employment status / Total residents / % of total / Out-commuters / % of out-commuters
Full-time / 162,982 / 80% / 18,646 / 90%
Part-time / 39,931 / 20% / 2,161 / 10%
Total / 202,913 / 100% / 20,807 / 100%
Employed / 180,179 / 89% / 19,327 / 93%
Self-employed / 22,734 / 11% / 1,480 / 7%
Total / 202,913 / 100% / 20,807 / 100%

Table 6 shows that 80% of employed Edinburgh residents work full-time, for out-commuters this rises to 90%. Out-commuters are also more likely to be employees (93%) compared with all employed Edinburgh residents (89%).

Figure 6 compares industry of employment for in-commuters and Edinburgh residents.

Figure 6: Edinburgh workforce by industry and place of residence, 2001.

Of Edinburgh’s 264,723 workforce 14% are employed in ‘real estate and business activities’ with almost a third of sector employees in-commuting. ‘Financial intermediation’ is the next largest sector with 14% of Edinburgh’s jobs, over a third of which are held by in-commuters.

Figure 7 compares industry of employment for Edinburgh residents who work in the city and those who out-commute to work.

Figure 7: Edinburgh residents by industry and destination, 2001.

Figure 7 shows that 17% of Edinburgh’s 202,913 employed residents work in ‘real estate and business activities’, of which only a small proportion travel to work outside Edinburgh. No other industries have a significant number of people traveling to work outside Edinburgh.

Figure 8 below compares the occupations of Edinburgh residents and in-commuters working in Edinburgh.

Figure 8: Edinburgh workforce by occupation and place of residence, 2001.

Figure 8 shows that in-commuters account for a significant proportion of all occupational groups working in Edinburgh with their representation highest in large employers and higher managerial occupations; lower managerial and professional occupations; and intermediate occupations.

Figure 9 below compares the occupations of Edinburgh residents working in Edinburgh and those out-commuting.

Figure 9: Edinburgh residents by occupation and place of employment, 2001.

Figures 8 and 9 show that the overall occupational profiles of Edinburgh’s workforce and residents are very similar - not unexpected given the high proportion of residents who work in the city.

Of the 20,807 Edinburgh residents who out-commute, the largest proportion work in lower managerial and professional occupations (4% of all residents).

Figures 10 and 11 below show in and out-commuting by gender.

Figure 10: In-commuters by gender, 2001.
/ Figure 11: Out-commuters by gender, 2001.

Figure 10 and 11 show that a clear majority of commuters are male. However, females represent a slightly higher percentage of in-commuters (46%) than out-commuters (36%).

Figures 12 and 13 show in and out-commuting by age.

Figure 12: In-commuters by age-group, 2001.
/ Figure 13: Out-commuters by age-groups, 2001.

Figures 12 and 13 shows that a clear majority of commuters are aged 30+. The proportions of those in each age group in and out-commuting are very similar overall.

Figure 14 below shows commuting by mode of transport for residents working in Edinburgh, residents out-commuting to their place of work and in-commuters to Edinburgh.

Figure 14: Commuters by mode of transport, 2001.

Figure 14 shows that 41% of Edinburgh residents travelling to work within Edinburgh do so by car (as a driver) and 30% travel by bus or train – the highest in the East of Scotland. Of all out-commuters, 77% drive to work and only 16% use a bus or train. Use of buses and trains is higher for in-commuters than out-commuters (28 vs. 16%).

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

Table 7: Change in total and working-age population in Edinburgh, 1998-2003.

Edinburgh / 1998 / 2003 / Change 1998-2003
Total population / 446,200 / 448,400 / 2,200 / 0.5%
Working-age population / 294,700 (66%) / 302,600 (67%) / 7,900 / 2.7%
Source: Mid-year estimates, General Register Office (GRO) Scotland

Table 8: Edinburgh residents by place of birth, 2001.

Place of birth / %
Scotland / 77.8%
England / 12.1%
Wales / 0.5%
Northern Ireland / 1.3%
Republic of Ireland / 0.7%
Other EU countries 1, 2 / 2.1%
Elsewhere / 5.6%
Source: Census 2001

Table 9: Job density[5] in Edinburgh, 2002.

2002
Edinburgh / 1.14
East of Scotland / 0.86
Scotland / 0.82
Source: Office of National Statistics (ONS)

Table 10: Claimant count rate, November 2004.

Claimant count
Edinburgh / 2.2%
East of Scotland / 2.23%
Scotland / 2.27%
Source: Claimant Register, Nomis

Table 11: Resident- and workplace based gross weekly earnings, 2003.

Residents based / Workplace based
Edinburgh / £408.3 / £402.3
East of Scotland / £374.0 / £372.7
Scotland / £367.2 / £365.8
Source: Nomis: New Earnings Survey, 2004.

[1] The Census data provides information on immigration to Edinburgh from outside the UK however there is no data relating to emigration to locations outside the UK. The numbers presented in Table 1 are for movements within the UK only.

[2] Including people from outside the UK and people with no address the year before the census.

[3] Based on total number of people migrating to Edinburgh.

[4] Based on Scotland and UK only.

[5] Ratio of filled jobs to working-age residents