Demographic change and its impact upon the northern regions

Aims

The paper summarises the patterns and trends in demographic behaviour and explores the likely outcomes of this process upon the North of England. The paper is one of a series of 12 commissioned by the centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies [CURDS] at the University of Newcastle to support the Northern Futures research programme commissioned by The Northern Way through the Spatial Economics Research Centre [SERC].

Methodology

The paper draws on evidence on demographic changes from official sources and academic research from the UK and internationally, focusing on: fertility rates; mortality trends; migration trends; and ethnic group populations.

Key issues

The paper outlines the implications of an increasingly aging population and the need to increase labour force participation among older people to maintain sound economics and pension systems in the face of such demographic changes. It highlights that in future an increasing proportion of the 65+ age group will be from a non-White British background [from 3% in 2001 to 7% in 2031] which has implications for the cultural sensitivities around the provision of health care services and care for the elderly.