« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Migration and Commuting in Urban and Rural Scotland
Executive Summary
Background
This report focuses on migration and commuting in urban and rural Scotland based on statistics from Census 2001. These statistics became available in 2004. Given that Scotland's population is forecast to decline, and that remote rural areas are often perceived to be losing population, it is important to have a better understanding of migration in terms of who is moving into and out of Scotland and whether people are moving into or out of urban or rural areas. Statistics on commuting give an insight into whether people are commuting from rural to urban areas or the other way round. Such information is important as it gives a better understanding of the linkages between urban and rural areas. Whilst the focus of the report is on commuting and migration, key themes from census 2001 are also presented for urban and rural Scotland. This means that the report brings together, for the first time, results from Census 2001 on urban and rural Scotland.
Migration
Statistics from Census 2001 show that:
- All geographic areas in Scotland witnessed a net gain in population through migration. Large urban areas had the highest net gain, followed by accessible rural areas.
- In-migrants to large urban areas were most likely to have come from another part of the UK (28%) or outside the UK (25%). In-migrants to accessible rural areas were most likely to have moved from the urban areas (53% from large and other urban combined) or from another part of the UK (20%). In-migrants to remote rural areas were most likely to have moved from another part of the UK.
- Out-migrants from large urban areas were most likely to move to other urban areas (25%) or to another part of the UK (38%). Out-migrants from accessible rural areas were most likely to move to urban areas (24% to large urban areas and 32% to other urban areas). Out-migrants from remote rural areas were most likely to move to large urban areas (21%) or other parts of the UK (22%).
- In-migrants to remote rural Scotland (34%) were more likely to be born outside Scotland than in-migrants to accessible rural areas (23%). In-migrants to remote rural areas were more likely to be self-employed (15%).
- Out-migrants from rural Scotland were most likely to be aged under 25.
- In-migrants to remote rural Scotland are more likely to be aged 40 and over (37%), compared to in-migrants to accessible rural Scotland (29%).
- All the migration figures exclude people who have changed address within the same geographic area.
Commuting
Statistics from Census 2001 show that:
- People living in accessible small towns (63%) and accessible rural areas (54%) were most likely to commute out of their area to work. Large urban areas have the lowest percentage of people commuting out of the area to work (12%).
- Large urban areas have the highest rate of net commuting.
- Those who live in accessible rural areas are most likely to commute to work in urban areas.
- For those commuting out of remote rural areas, the most likely destination was a remote small town.
- Commuters from accessible rural areas were the most likely to have to travel over 5km to their place of work or study (60%). Commuters from remote small towns were the least likely to have to travel over 5km (28%).
- The car is the most common mode of travel for commuting.
- Students from accessible rural areas were most likely to travel to study in other urban areas (42%), whereas students from remote rural areas are most likely to travel to study in a remote small town (64%).
People
Statistics from Census 2001 show that:
- 87% of Scotland's population was born in Scotland. Rural areas have lower percentages born in Scotland compared to the Scottish average (83% of accessible rural and 78% of the remote rural population were born in Scotland). Large urban areas have the highest percentage of population born outside the United Kingdom (5% compared to the Scottish average of 4%).
- 8% of Scotland's population was born in England. Rural areas have higher percentages of population born in England than the Scottish average (13% in accessible rural Scotland and 18% in remote rural Scotland).
- 6% of Scotland's working population work or study from home. Rural areas have higher percentages of population working or studying from home than the Scottish average (9% and 13% in accessible rural and remote rural areas respectively).
- 98% of Scotland's population has no knowledge of Gaelic. Remote areas have the highest percentages of population with knowledge of Gaelic (6% in remote small towns and 10% in remote rural areas).
- 5% of Scotland's housing stock was unoccupied in 2001, 1% was unoccupied as a result of second residence/holiday accommodation and 4% was vacant. In remote rural areas, the percentage of unoccupied housing stock accounted for by second homes was particularly high (11%) with the remaining unoccupied household space being accounted for by vacant household space (5%).
- 6% of Scotland's working population works more than 60 hours. Rural areas have higher percentages of people working more than 60 hours than the Scottish average (10% in accessible rural areas and 13% in remote rural areas).
« Previous | Contents | Next »