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Sub-Scotland Economic Data
As a result of the small sample sizes in most of the surveys which collect economic information about Scotland, detailed information at a sub-Scotland level is currently fairly limited. However, through the commissioning of new surveys, such as the Scottish Household Survey, and 'boosts' to existing UK surveys, such as the Annual Business Inquiry, it is expected that more reliable and detailed economic information about small areas within Scotland will be available in the next few years.
Care must be taken when interpreting sub-Scotland economic data as some information relates to the activity of those who live in an area, and some to those who work there.
Output, Employment and Population Profiles
Glasgow City accounts for around 12 per cent of the Scottish population aged over 15 years, but has a slightly larger share of the total Scottish GDP - an estimated 15 per cent in 1996. It is one of the few areas where its share of employment is less than the share of population aged over 15 - others include Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway and North Lanarkshire.
Chart A: Scottish Regions shares of GDP, Employment and Population
Sources: Scottish Executive, Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland
North Eastern Scotland (including Aberdeen City), Edinburgh City and Glasgow City are the only areas where the share of GDP is significantly higher than the share of employment. Areas where GDP share is significantly less than employment share include Highland, Clackmannanshire and Fife.
West Dunbartonshire and Clackmannanshire had the highest unemployment claimant counts rates at 12 per cent and 10 per cent respectively in 1998. Aberdeen and Edinburgh cities were among the lowest at 2 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively, while Glasgow city, at 7.1 per cent, was above the Scottish average of 5.8 per cent (Table 4.4).
Average earnings for Scotland were £365
per week in 1999. Three city authorities (Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen) were all above this level, and Scottish Borders, Moray and Perth and Kinross were amongst the lowest (Table 4.5).
Regional Population Movements
The national migratory trends referred to in the previous chapter have their counterpart at the Scottish regional level, where similar significant population/migration trends are apparent. Equally, the implications of such trends have their counterpart, with parallel economic and social perspectives.
The evidence shows considerable variation, with heavy losses from the west and from the islands and a relative influx to the north-east and east. In addition, the cities of Glasgow and Dundee have experienced major declines which, in part, are explained by the move of population towards the surrounding areas.
Sub-Scotland Industry Profiles
Within regions, the profile of jobs dependent on different industries varies markedly. Edinburgh City has the largest share of its jobs in the Service Industries (86%), while Borders has the smallest share (59%). Argyll and Bute, and Perthshire have relatively few of their jobs in the Manufacturing sector (6% and 7% respectively) compared to West Lothian and Inverclyde (both with 31%). There are a number of areas which have almost no jobs in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industries, and those with the largest shares include Aberdeen, Dumfries and Galloway, Shetland and Orkney each with approximately 11% share of their jobs in these primary industries (Table 4.3).
Chart B: Distribution of employees between industries by Unitary Authority 1997
Source: Office for National Statistics
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