ONS release revised local authority population estimates for 2002 to 2008

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released revised mid-2002 to mid-2008 population estimates for local authorities in England and Wales. The revisions have been produced as a result of improvements to ONS  methodology, introduced as part of the cross-government Migration Statistics Improvement Programme.

The new population estimates use an enhanced method for apportioning migrants to local authorities incorporating modelling using up-to-date survey and administrative data. Higher Education Statistics Agency data is utilised to improve estimates of student internal migration.

ONS have produced a population estimates analysis tool to help users understand the main patterns and trends in the population estimates. Users can select specific areas of interest and compare local estimates across time and with estimates at higher levels of geography.

Data users are also able to select specific age groups and view the components of population change for the chosen area.

Mid-2009 population estimates will be published on 24th June 2010, and will be based upon the new methodology.

Visit the ONS website for more information.

Future population growth in the City Region over the next 20 years – likely to be offset by out-migration?

Encouragingly the City Region has an increasingly young, diverse and growing working age population.

The area’s working age population is forecast to grow by just under 100,000 (6%) in the next 10 years and by more than 180,000 (11%) by 2028.

This growth is expected to be underpinned by a significant increase in the number of young people. Numbers of 0-15 year olds are expected to increase by more than 65,000 (12%) in the next decade and by nearly 84,000 (14%) by 2028.

Source: Office for National Statistics, 2006-​​based population projections
Dataset: web page, CSV, XLS | Share: Interactive chart, image

The growth rates for the working age population are very similar in the West Midlands and the City Region.

Unemployment rates in Worcestershire: August 2009

Worcestershire County Council’s research and intelligence unit publish a monthly round-up of employment fact and figures.

These statistics are broken down by wards and districts, and also show the picture for the whole of Worcestershire in comparison to the West Midlands.

Highlights from the August 2009 summary (PDF, 713kb) include:

Worcestershire awarded grant to promote intergenerational volunteering

Worcestershire has been awarded part of a £5.5 million grant as part of a cross-government scheme to promote intergenerational volunteering. The Generations Together campaign aims to encourage meaningful interaction between young and old generations across the region.

Over the next two years £386,800 will be available for Worcestershire’s transferable skills project. This project aims to provide more than 700 community project volunteers, both young and old, with additional skills to encourage greater understanding between generations, challenge negative stereotypes and increase interaction between different age groups.

ONS seminars on improvements to 2008 population statistics

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are holding seminars across four locations in June 2009 to explain the forthcoming improvements to the mid-2008 population estimates, sub-national population projections and migration statistics.

The seminars will provide information on adjusting internal (within UK) migration using data on students. They will also cover modelling the geographical distribution of long-term international migration and short-term internal migration at the local authority level, together with other improvements that are being made.

Moving the equalities agenda forward

Last week the Observatory launched the  State of the Region dialogue on population change. This event was the first step towards understanding what evidence on the changing population is needed by policy makers in the region.

Chris Allen, Director of Research and Policy at brap, was one of the presenters at this event and his presentation Beyond being statistically challenged: How do we move the equalities agenda forward? is now available to view here.

Census white paper sets out plans for 2011

The government has published a White Paper, Helping to shape tomorrow, setting out plans for the 2011 Census. The Census will take place on Sunday 27 March 2011 and will be the first undertaken by the new UK Statistics Authority.

Unlike previous Censuses, most of the forms will be posted out this time, with only around 5% being hand delivered. There will also be an opportunity to complete the forms on-line for the first time. Despite these changes, the estimated cost will still be nearly £500 million.

The questionnaire for 2011 will be slightly longer than in 2001.

West Midlands population projected to grow by near 3% between 2007 and 2012

The National Statistician’s annual article on the population has been published by the Office for National Statistics, covering the theme of aging and mortality, investigating the underlying demographic trends contributing to the UK’s population growth. The report also highlights key sub-national demographic statistics.

The UK’s population is projected to increase from 61 million in 2007 to 63.2 million in 2012 (3.7% growth), whereas over the same period in the West Midlands region the population is projected to increase from 5.4 million to 5.5 million (2.9% growth), the third lowest percentage increase of the nine English regions. The North East and North West are the only regions projected to record slower growth, whilst the East Midlands is forecast to experience the fastest with a population increase of 5.4%.

New and emerging challenges of population change

On 16th September 2008, we hosted a full day seminar at the Observatory on new and emerging challenges of population change. The presentations by each of the speakers are now available to download.

Population estimates in the West Midlands

The Office for National Statistics released the 2007 mid year population estimates and 2006 mid year population estimates by ethnic group at Government Office Region level and down to Local Authority District level last week.

Data for the total population is available by five year age bands and broad age group (children, working age, and older people), and can also be split by sex. The ethnicity data can only be split by sex and broad age group.

This data has been incorporated into our 2008 State of the Region demographic dataset (XLS, 2.9MB) and the mid year estimates InstantAtlas maps by region and local authority.

Headline figures for the West Midlands show that in line with national trends the working age population has increased by 3,000, whereas the number of children has decreased by 6,000 since 2006.