Population down, average earnings up

Wednesday 31 January 2018

Guernsey's population fell by a total of 73 people in the year ending March 2017, and the average earnings rose while unemployment dropped.

The Annual Electronic Census Report for 2017 was released today by the States, revealing a number of different trends.

Unemployment fell to its lowest in Q3 2017 since Q1 2014, following a time of continued decline, with 552 people registered as unemployed. That is 1.8% of the island's workforce.

Employment statistics by economic sector showed that finance occupied 20.8% of the population, public administration 16.7%, wholesale retail and repairs 12.6% and construction 8.5%.

Earnings data showed that in the year ending September 2017, the nominal average median earnings for the island were £32,114, a 1.9% increase on September 2016. 

A larger number of men were in earning brackets from £30,000 up to £120,000 than women, while there were more women in the £20,000 to £30,000 bracket, the £10,000 to £20,000 bracket and the £0 to £10,000.

30.1% of the island's population lived in St Peter Port in 2017, making it the most highly and densely populated parish. 91.3% of the population lived in Local Market housing units and 7.8% lived in Open Market units. 

82.1% of the working age population (aged 16 to 64) were either in full-time education, employed or self-employed at the end of March 2017.

The full report can be viewed here.