Social Issues in London - Report Example

Social Trends and Issues SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF LONDON London the capital of England and United Kingdom is the most heavily populated city in the European Union. London covers 611 square miles of England. London comprises of regions such a city of land, it has 32 boroughs 13boroughs make up inner London and 19 make up outer London. The 2011 census results show that the population of London was 8.2 million. When compared to the 2001-population size of 7.3 million the office of national statistics (ONS) explain that London gained over 850,000 residents, therefore the population growth in London since 2001 is 12%. The ONS report (2011) states that London was the greatest growing region in England and Wales followed by three other regions growing at 8%. The population density of London is the highest in England and Wales at 52 persons per hectare. The male population in London is 4.0 Million while the female population is 4.1 million. The median age for the residents of London is 38.1 years. GLA intelligence reports show that there are over 50, people aged above 90 in London. The life expectance at birth in London improved to 82.3 years. The life expectancy at 65 increased by 2 months this indicates an improvement in the health of the population. It is evident that London’s population is the youngest than other regions in the UK. There are over 300 languages spoken in London. Age structure in London The age structure of London is not similar to that of England as a whole. London has a greater proportion of people aged between 20 and 44. Data illustrates that in inner London people aged 20 and 44 represent 48% of the population and in outer London people aged 20and 44 make up 39% of the population. When we compare these figures to the rest of England, it is higher because in England the people aged between 20 and 44 make up 35% of the population. The age structure of London shows children aged five and below make up 8.5% of the population whereas people aged 65+ makes up 11% of the population. The ONS state that London has the highest proportion of young children. When we compare 2001 and 2011 data, it is evident that in London the number of children under 5 increased by 24%. Data shows that the residents of London aged 15-64 increased by 13.5% since 2001. This is the largest increase in England and Wales. The ONS report explains that areas that have a high population of 65+ have fewer births and more deaths this explain their slow growth rates. The population growth rate in London is due to the high numbers of birth and low deaths (London.gov.uk, 2011). The ONS states that the population of inner London is lower when compared to outer London and the rest of England. The proportion of population aged over 60 is lower in inner London than in outer London and the rest of England. Demographers owe the change of population in London to natural changes. London has a young age structure that is different from the rest of England. The proportion of population aged 25-34 is higher in inner London than in outer London. Twenty five percent of the population in inner London is aged 25-34 whereas 15% of the population in outer London is aged 25-34 (London.gov.uk, 2011). A Graph comparing the age structure of London to the rest of England. Population in Local and Unitary Authorities When we consider the changes of population in local and unitary authorities statistics show that 10 out of 20 local and unitary local authorities that had the highest percentage growth were in London. Croydon is a local authority in London. The population of Croydon in 2012 is 363400 people this suggests an 8.5% increase in population between 2001 and 2011. The ONS state that London has 19 densely populated local authorities. According to the statistical data, Islington in London is the most densely populated local authority. Its population density is 13873 people per square kilometre (London.gov.uk, 2011) Graph showing percentage population of different regions in England and Wales Ethnic Composition in London Gye (2012) describes London as being the most ethnically diverse region in England and Wales. According to ONS, 37% of London residents were born abroad, 27% of residents in London are not citizens of the United Kingdom. In 2011, the white British residing in London make up 3.7 million of the population. The White British make up 44.9% of the population of London. In 2001, the white British residing in London made up 4.3 million of London’s population. This change suggests that British whites are becoming a minority ethnic group in London. The composition of other ethnic groups is as follows other whites make up 14.9% of London’s population, Asians make up 18.4%, blacks make up 13.3%, Arabs make up 1.3%and mixed race make up 5% of London’s population. Data from the graph shows that the population of white British residing in London dropped from 58% to 45%. Ethnic minorities increased in number in 2011 by 39%. The non-British ethnic groups increase by 52%. Research shows that the rise in minority groups is because minorities move out of their areas of concentration to better neighbourhoods. On the other hand, white British or Americans in an effort to avoid majority minority neighbourhoods they move to areas where 70% of the neighbourhood is occupied by whites. Households in London The number of household in London is 3.3 million, an 8.3 percent increase from 2001. The household size in London is 2.5 persons per household. Gleeson observes that over half of household in London live in flat. In the statistical data provided in 2011 census, it is evident that more than half of the households in London own homes. However, the number of households who own homes has dropped by 6% since 2001. Gleeson explains that housing prices in London are higher by 61% than the national averages. ONS shows that there are approximately 224000 households living in overcrowded accommodation in London. There are over 670000 households in London living in private rented sectors. This is a high proportion when compared to the national average of 14.2%. The average housing price in London is £453, 070 a higher figure than UK average of £241,461. According to Londoncouncils.gov (2012), there has been an increase of the number of households by 540,000. On the other hand, the number of new homes in London is 430,000. Data from London.gov shows that between 2001and 2011there was a 1.8% rise in the number of houses and bungalows and an 18.6% rise in the number of flats in London. Data further shows that there are 100200 people living in 6382 communal establishments. There are approximately 11.6% households with few bedrooms for its occupants this suggests that London is the most overcrowded region in England and Wales. The average annual income for households in London is £28197; residents of Newham borough in London are the lowest earners with a median income of £22022. The poverty rate in London is at 21.8%. Housing prices in London are high than the rest of UK, the average cost of renting a private accommodation is £222 per week and the national average price is 164 per week. The rise in housing prices is because of the rise in demand for accommodation from the growing population. The rise in the annual income figures which directly affects the housing prices. In London, there are approximately 670,000 household live in privately rented accommodations.GLA intelligence unit reports show that in 2010 there were 3673 rough sleepers in London. Reports show that three quarter of the rough, sleepers were men, 70% suffered from mental health problems and 52% represented non-citizens of the UK. According to GLA, intelligence units’ local authorities in London recorded that there were 1680 homeless people living in bed and breakfast shelter. Cars and Van Ownership The 2011 census shows that majority of boroughs in London recorded an over 5% increase in the total number of cars and vans owned by residents. There are 12 Boroughs in London that recorded a 10% or more decrease in the cars and vans owned. Boroughs such as city of London, Barking & Dagenham, Newham saw a rise in the number of households with three or more cars. Other boroughs like Bexley and Havering recorded an increase of over 50% in the number of households with four cars or more. ECONOMY IN LONDON During the recession period, London’s economy grew by 12.4%. Over a quarter of a million jobs were created. Statistics show that the number of active businesses grew quickly in London when compare with other regions in the UK. Data from ONS shows that between 2007 and 2011 increase of new businesses in London was by 11.5%. On the other hand, other parts of UK recorded either 3% increase or decrease in number of business. The average household income in London is 30% a figure higher than the national average. This percentage is a rise from the average household income of 2006, which was 26%. According to the GLA intelligence, unit economic indicators illustrate a slow improvement in the United Kingdom and London’s economy at the beginning of 2013. London’s growth in the recession period was due to its ability to maintain a strong growth in output. Analysts state that the financial sector, which accounts for 20% of London’s GVA, was able to grow its share of regional GVA in the periods dating 2005 and 2010. Poverty Rates The poverty profiles of UK show that London has the highest rates of poverty and inequality than other regions in the UK. According to GLA intelligence reports, there are high proportions of persons living below the poverty level. Child poverty in London is rampant in households that have one working adult. Statistical data shows that poverty in inner London is higher than in outer London. A large number of low-income populations live in outer London. In London, there are a high proportion of households residing in temporary accommodations. Issues such low paid jobs, joblessness contribute to the rise in poverty rates Employment Rates Employment rates have been on the rise in London in the year 2011. However, changes in the rising trends were observed in the year 1990 to 1994 where employment rtes shrunk. In 2011, the rise in employment rates was by 3.0%. Self-employment and the rise of part time jobs appear have contributed to the rise in employment opportunities in the London labour market. Unemployment Rates The unemployment rates in London have been rising for the past 20years. In 2002 the unemployment rates was 6.7% and in 2012, the percentage rose to 10.1%. The rise in unemployment rates is due to the changes in the opportunities in the market. Technological advances in fields such as farming, manufacturing replaces human labour. Economic recession, geographical immobility’s and voluntary unemployment are factors that explain the rise in cases of unemployment. Housing Price Inflation Poverty rates are on the rise n London due to the housing prices. Housing prices in UK have been escalating. In London, housing prices have been rising at a faster rate than in UK. Data shows that house prices in London are 61% higher when compared to the national averages. The annual average house price is £453,070, which is 15 times the average London income. This rise on house pricing limits the low-income families since they cannot afford to rent the space. This encourages overcrowding in London (London.gov.uk, 2011). The rise in housing prices is equivalent to the increasing number of households in London. The growing population in London influences the housing prices by encouraging the rise in housing prices. The improvement of household income over the years does affect housing prices. Residents migrating to London influence the rise in population. A rise in population increases the demand for housing facilities and this directly influences the housing prices LONDON’S LABOUR MARKET According to ONS, (2011) London has around 5.4 million people of working age 16-64. 68.4% of this number work and 6.9% are unemployed. 24.7 % of this population are economically inactive. The unemployment rate in London in the year 2011 was 9.4%. According to Piggott, in the year 2006, 65% of the male population were employed and 16% were self-employed. Data from ONS shows that when comparing inactivity rate for women in London to the other regions in UK, the rate was higher in London. Statistical data from ONS shows that the number of self-employed women was higher in London. Employee women represent 58% of the working population in London. Figures from the ONS show that the number of resident in employment has been on the rise for the past 20 years. However, there was a decrease in employment from1990 to 1994. The jobs in London grew by 10% from 1985 to 2006. Analysts from ONS note that there was an 11.5% decline for male employment rates. From 2001 to 2006, the male employment gap rate between London and the United Kingdom has widened. In the past 20 years there are technological advances have affected employment in areas such as farming, and manufacturing sectors. The rise in life expectancy indices has resulted in a change in the retirement age. The introduction of welfare and job seekers allowance in 1996 serves to encourage people to find jobs. Unemployment A high unemployment rate suggests that the economic resources are being underutilized. GLA intelligence units show that in 2011 the number of unemployed in London rose by 42000. The rise in unemployment in recent years is due to the 26% cut in government support unemployment is for out of work youth. Young adult unemployment is higher in London with around 25% of active young adults being unemployed. The unemployment rate in inner London is high than in outer London. Programs such as job seeker allowance have seen the figure of unemployed youth rise (GLAINTELLIGENCE unit, 2011). Unemployment is has been on the rise for the past 20 decades due to factors such as a mismatch of skills in the labour market. For instance, a larger percentage of population encounter challenges when trying to shift their careers due to the need to learn new skills before securing a position. There is an issue with geographical immobility where opportunities may be available in a certain regions, but challenges such as accommodation, and family prevent someone from pursuing the opportunity. Technological advances over the years have resulted in a fall in the demand for labour. Structural changes in the economy affect employment rates. For example, a fall in demand for a product in the market results in unemployment. The average monthly pay for employees does determine the rate of unemployment. A low minimum wage discourages people from seeking employment. Then there is the issue of voluntary unemployment, the unemployed population consider the benefits such as job seeker allowances. If this is generous, the unemployed develop a reluctant attitude in their search for a job. The case of recession in the late 1990s led to a rise in the rates of unemployment. Graph Showing the Unemployment Rate in London Since 1993 to 2011 According to the data from ONS in all ethnic groups, the female population were more likely to be unemployed than men. SOCIO-SPATIAL INEQUALITIES IN LONDON Income poverty The ONS poverty profile indicates that over 1 million persons in London live in low-income families. This represents a 60% rise since 2001. In London 38% of children, live in low-income households. Child poverty in London is higher than other regions in UK. Housing cost in London explains why the poverty rates are high in London. The housing costs in London are higher when compared to the rest of UK. This explains why the poverty rate in London is 28% a figure higher than the 22% rate in England. Analysts explain that the poverty rates gap between London and UK has widened since 2001. ONS data points out that in 2011 333000 children in poverty live in working families. In 2001, the majority of children in poverty came from workless families. The low income working families has risen since 2001 from 390,000 to 680,000 (Londonspovertyprofile.gov.uk, 2011). Income and Wealth Inequality ONS data indicates that the top 10% of households rating by their income account for 40% of all income. Data further shows that the top 20% account for over half of all income. This data when compared to data from other regions in UK proves that London is the most unequal region. Analyst state that 10% of the richest persons in London in terms of financial wealth account for two-third of London’s financial wealth. The top 10% of persons richest in terms of property wealth account for 45% of property wealth (Londonspovertyprofile.gov.uk, 2011). Overcrowding In London, congestion in the private rented sector is another socio-spatial inequality. ONS explain the 2011 census shows that 220000 household that reside in overcrowded housing. This number has risen by 60,000 since 2001.the changes in housing benefits indicates that areas like inner London may become unaffordable for low income earning families (Londonspovertyprofile.gov.uk, 2011). Unemployment The labour profiles show that unemployment is a key socio-spatial inequality. Data indicates that there are over 400,000 unemployed persons in London. ONS data shows that there are about 900000 working age adults some are unemployed some are economically inactive but want a job and some have part time jobs. The number of people in lowly paid jobs has risen since 2005 (Londonspovertyprofile.gv.uk, 2011). References GLAECONOMICS. (2013). London’s economy today. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from, http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/londons_economy_today_no126_280213.pdf GLAINTELLIGENCE UNIT. (2011). 2011 census results: London boroughs population by age and sex. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from, http://data.london.gov.uk/datastorefiles/documents/2011-census-first-results.pdf GLAINTELLIGENCE UNIT. (2012). Unemployment in London. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from, http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Update%2010-2012%20Unemploymentpercentage20inpercentage20London.pdf Gye, H. (2012). British whites are the minority in London for the first time as census shows number of UK immigrants has jumped by 3million in 10 years. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2246288/Census-2011-UK-immigrant-population-jumps-THREE-MILLION-10-years.html Office of National Statistics. (2012). 2011 census-population and household estimates for England and Wales, March 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from, http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_270487.pdf Piggott, G. (2011). Labour market: beyond headlines. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from, http://data.london.gov.uk/documents/focus-on-london2011-labour-market.pdf Read More