Aberdeenshire migration and commuting patterns

ABERDEENSHIRE

In 2001 the population of Aberdeenshire was 226,871, 62% of which were of working age.

MIGRATION

Table 1 below shows UK migration to and from Aberdeenshire 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 / 7,422 / 7,309 / -113
Working-age migration / 5,897 / 5,216 / -681
Source: Census Origin-Destination tables, 2001.

In the year to 2001 Aberdeenshire experienced a small overall net out-migration of total population (-113). There was a larger net out-migration of working-age (-681). 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 Aberdeenshire from the UK and overseas.

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

Of the total number of people migrating to Aberdeenshire (9,334) in the year to 2001 59% came from Scotland; 19% (1,790) came from England & Wales; 11% (998) came from a country outside the UK; and 11% from an unknown place of origin.

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

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

Of the 5,477 people migrating to Aberdeenshire in 2001 from elsewhere in Scotland, over half (59%) were from neighbouring Aberdeen. The next most popular origins for migrants were Moray (7%) and the Angus (5%).

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

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

Of the 5,594 people moving out of Aberdeenshire to other Scottish areas, the highest proportion moved to adjoining Aberdeen (54%). Edinburgh (8%) and Moray (7%) 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 Aberdeenshire are those aged 16-24 (34%) and 25-34 year olds (20%). The largest groups out-migrating are 25-34 (26%) and 35-44 year olds (17%) – the core working-age groups.

TRAVEL TO WORK PATTERNS

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

Table 2: Aberdeenshire residents and workforce, 2001.

No. / %
Total population / 226,871 / 100%
Working-age population / 141,295 / 62%
Total Aberdeenshire residents in employment / 107,627 / 100%
…who work in Aberdeenshire / 68,650 / 64%
...who are out-commuters / 38,977 / 36%
Total Aberdeenshire workforce / 77,094 / 100%
…who are Aberdeenshire residents / 68,650 / 89%
….who are in-commuters / 8,444 / 11%
Source: ONS: Mid-year population estimates and Origin-Destination statistics (Census 2001).

Table 2 shows that of the 141,295 resident working-age population 107,627 are in employment – 64% in Aberdeenshire and 36% outwith the area. Aberdeenshire has a workforce of 77,094, 89% of which are residents and 11% are in-commuters.

Table 3 shows where Aberdeenshire’s workforce lives.

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

Place of residence / Aberdeenshire workforce
No. of workers / % of total workforce / % of total in-commuters
Aberdeenshire / 68,650 / 89.0%
Aberdeen City / 5,679 / 7.4% / 67.3%
Moray / 1,558 / 2.0% / 18.5%
Angus / 757 / 1.0% / 9.0%
Highland / 105 / 0.1% / 1.2%
Dundee City / 56 / 0.1% / 0.7%
Perth & Kinross / 52 / 0.1% / 0.6%
Fife / 50 / 0.1% / 0.6%
Glasgow City / 19 / 0.0% / 0.2%
North Lanarkshire / 19 / 0.0% / 0.2%
Other Scottish LAs / 149 / 0.2% / 1.8%
Total workforce / 77,094 / 100.0% / 100.0%

Table 4 shows that 89% of Aberdeenshire’s residents work locally. Aberdeen City supplies 7.4% of Aberdeenshire’s workforce – equivalent to two-thirds of all in-commuters.

Table 4 below shows where Aberdeenshire residents work.

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

Place of work / Aberdeenshire residents
No. of residents / % of total residents / % of total out-commuters
Aberdeenshire / 68,650 / 63.79%
Aberdeen City / 36,690 / 34.09% / 94.1%
Moray / 913 / 0.85% / 2.3%
Angus / 814 / 0.76% / 2.1%
Highland / 119 / 0.11% / 0.3%
Edinburgh City / 95 / 0.09% / 0.2%
Dundee City / 80 / 0.07% / 0.2%
Glasgow City / 45 / 0.04% / 0.1%
Shetland Islands / 45 / 0.04% / 0.1%
Fife / 31 / 0.03% / 0.1%
Other Scottish LAs / 145 / 0.1% / 0.4%
Total residents / 107,627 / 100.0% / 100.0%

Table 4 shows that of all Aberdeenshire residents 64% work in Aberdeenshire itself. 36,690 (34%) Aberdeenshire residents travel to work in Aberdeen – 94% of all out-commuters. Moray and Angus are the next most popular out-commuting destinations, however between them they account for only 1.6% (1,727) of Aberdeenshire’s residents.

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

Table 5: Employment status of Aberdeenshire workforce, 2001.

Employment status / Total workforce / % of total / In-commuters / % of in-commuters
Full-time / 56,349 / 73% / 7,346 / 87%
Part-time / 20,745 / 27% / 1,098 / 13%
Total / 77,094 / 100% / 8444 / 100%
Employed / 62,354 / 81% / 7853 / 93%
Self-employed / 14,740 / 19% / 591 / 7%
Total / 77,094 / 100% / 8444 / 100%

Of those working in Aberdeenshire, 73% are employed full-time, however for in-commuters this rises to 87%. 81% of the workforce are employees however this rises markedly for those in-commuting (93%). Therefore in-commuters to Aberdeenshire are more likely to be full-time employees than residents working there.

Table 6 compares the employment status of Aberdeenshire residents and out-commuters.

Table 6: Employment status of Aberdeenshire residents, 2001.

Employment status / Total residents / % of total / Out-commuters / % of out-commuters
Full-time / 82,306 / 76% / 33,303 / 85%
Part-time / 25,321 / 24% / 5,674 / 15%
Total / 107,627 / 100% / 38,977 / 100%
Employed / 91,335 / 85% / 36,834 / 95%
Self-employed / 16,292 / 15% / 2,143 / 5%
Total / 107,627 / 100% / 38,977 / 100%

Table 6 shows that 76% of Aberdeenshire residents in employment work full-time, for out-commuters this rises to 85%. Out-commuters are also more likely to be employees (95%) compared with all employed Aberdeenshire residents (85%).

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

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

Of Aberdeenshire’s 77,094 workforce 18% are employed in ‘mining & quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas & water supply’ 3% of which are in-commuters – the largest employer of in-commuters. ‘Wholesale and retail trade’ is the next largest sector with 14% of Aberdeenshire’s jobs, 1% of which are held by in-commuters.

Figure 7 compares industry of employment for Aberdeenshire residents who work locally and those who out-commute to work.

Figure 7: Aberdeenshire residents by industry and place of work, 2001.

Figure 7 shows that 20% of Aberdeenshire’s 107,627 employed residents work in ‘mining & quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas & water supply’, almost half of which travel to work outside Aberdeenshire. The third most popular employer of Aberdeenshire’s residents is ‘real estate and business activities’ (12%) – this is the second most important sector for out-commuters also.

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

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

Figure 8 shows that although in-commuters account for only a small proportion of all occupational groups working in Aberdeenshire they represent a smaller proportion of workers in small employers and own account workers, semi-routine and routine occupations.

Figure 9 below compares the occupations of Aberdeenshire residents working locally and those out-commuting.

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

Figures 8 and 9 show that Aberdeenshire’s residents have a higher proportion of employment in higher professional occupations (6%) and lower managerial & professional occupations (23%) compared to Aberdeenshire’s workforce (4% and 20% respectively). A large proportion of both of these occupational groups (the most skilled occupations) out-commute to work.

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 out-commuters (37%) than in-commuters (34%).

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 show that a clear majority of commuters are aged 30+. Commuters aged 30+ accounts for a lower share of in-commuters (73%) than out-commuters (80%).

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

Figure 14: Commuters by mode of transport, 2001.

Figure 14 shows that 65% of Aberdeenshire residents travelling to work locally do so by car (as a driver) and 9% as car passengers or in taxis. Only 4% use public transport. Of all out-commuters, 4 out of 5 drive to work in cars or on motorcycles and only 8% use a bus or train. In-commuters have a very similar profile to that of out-commuters.

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

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

Aberdeenshire / 1998 / 2003 / Change 1998-2003
Total population / 226,200 / 229,300 / 3,100 / 1.4%
Working-age population / 144,300 (64%) / 146,000 (64%) / 1,700 / 1.2%
Source: Mid-year estimates, General Register Office (GRO) Scotland

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

Place of birth / %
Scotland / 83.9%
England / 11.9%
Wales / 0.5%
Northern Ireland / 0.5%
Republic of Ireland / 0.2%
Other EU countries 1, 2 / 0.8%
Elsewhere / 2.1%
Source: Census 2001

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

2002
Aberdeenshire / 0.67
East of Scotland / 0.86
Scotland / 0.82
Source: Office of National Statistics (ONS)

Table 10: Claimant count rate, November 2004

Claimant count
Aberdeenshire / 1.3%
East of Scotland / 2.3%
Scotland / 2.7%
Source: Claimant Register, Nomis

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

Residents based / Workplace based
Aberdeenshire / 385.1 / 314.0
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 Aberdeenshire 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 Aberdeenshire.

[4] Based on Scotland and UK only.

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