Community / Census population decrease shows need for good jobs and appropriate housing, SIC leader says
CENSUS results showing a slight decrease in Shetland’s population over the last decade highlights the need for good quality jobs and appropriate housing in the isles, according to council leader Emma Macdonald.
Initial results from Scotland’s 2022 census shows a 1.2 per cent decline in Shetland’s population – to 22,900 – from 2011.
A report, from National Records of Scotland (NRS), says this was driven by outward migration.
The figures showed a population of 11,500 females and 11,400 males.
Across Scotland there was a 2.7 per cent rise (141,200 people) as a result of inward migration into the country. However, this was a slower rate than previously.
Without migration the population of Scotland would have decreased by around 49,800 since 2011 according to the NRS.
Shetland was only one of two council areas in Scotland with a decrease in population since 2011, with Angus the other.
In the case of Angus there was a greater number of deaths than births between the censuses.
The figures come at a time when Shetland Islands Council is continuing to promote the isles as a place to live and work in.
Council leader Macdonald said census figures can be “really useful when it comes to forward planning across a range of different services, and we have been aware that we have had some changing demographics”.
“I think this is why it is so important that we continue to focus on the need for good quality jobs within Shetland and that we have appropriate housing,” she said.
“We know that many young people leave Shetland to study but we also know that many of them want to come back to Shetland so to ensure they have the opportunity to do so we need a thriving sustainable economy so that younger folk can see a long term future here in Shetland.
“The Shetland Partnership are focusing on work within this area as we recognise it is the role of everyone to ensure Shetland has a positive future.”
The census figures also show that 21.8 per cent of the local population are aged 65 and over.
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