Four analyses within the Economy Insight section of the RSN website has now been updated, examining the proportion of population that is working age (16-64 years old), economic inactivity levels, private/public sector employment and enterprise landscape, each analysed at local authority level with class and classification averages.

WORKING AGE POPULATION

This analysis examines the proportion of population that is working age (16-64 years old) at local authority level. 

The analysis covers population estimates over the period 2010 to 2021, as well as a projection to 2043 and allows selection of authority or class and classification averages.  Points of note from the analysis include:

• The proportion of population that is working age has been consistently lower for Predominantly Rural authorities on average than the proportion for England overall.
• The proportions of those that are working age both in England and for Predominantly Rural local authorities as a whole had been decreasing since 2010 but this reversed in 2021 where more accurate Census data was used within the estimate.

- View this analysis here

ECONOMIC INACTIVITY

This analysis examines economic inactivity levels.  The analysis covers the period from April 2010 to June 2023 and allows selection of authority or class and classification averages.  Points of note from the analysis include:

• From April 2010 to March 2020, the percentage of 16 to 64 year olds who were economically inactive decreased both for Predominantly Rural authorities and England as a whole.  It has since increased again for both.
• The percentage of economically inactive who did not want a job has shown a general upward trend from April 2010 to June 2023 both for Predominantly Rural authorities and England as a whole, albeit with some movement away from this trend from year to year in both cases.

- View this analysis here

PRIVATE/PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

This analysis examines private/public sector employment at local authority level.  The analysis covers the period from 2015 to 2022 and allows selection of authority or class and classification averages.  Points of note from the analysis include:

• Both full time employment and public sector employment as proportions of the total number of employees in a workplace area are lower in Predominantly Rural areas than that seen in England overall.

- View this analysis here

PROPORTION OF ENTERPRISES IN BROAD INDUSTRIAL GROUPS

This analysis examines the enterprise landscape at the local authority level.  The analysis shows proportions of enterprises in broad industrial sectors over the years 2015 to 2023, and allows selection of authority or class and classification averages.  Points of note from the analysis include:

• Predominantly Rural areas, Predominantly Urban and England share in common the top two sectors in terms of proportion of enterprises, the sectors being the Professional, scientific and technical sector and the construction sector.
• The third most prevalent sector in terms of proportion of enterprises in Predominantly Rural areas is Agriculture, forestry and fishing, having been knocked off the second spot by the increasing proportion of construction enterprises in the period considered within the analysis.

- View this analysis here