What are the demographic changes that are happening in my area?

If your business is located within Birmingham, it is important to understand that many more young, Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals of Muslim faith will comprise a greater proportion of the working population and local market base in the city, especially in within its inner wards. It is also important to understand the implications that this will have on the people you employ and sell your goods or services to.

If your business is based in Birmingham’s outer wards, it is important to understand that the greater proportion of the working age population and local market base in your area will be at or approaching 50. It is also important to understand the implications that this will have upon the people you employ and try to sell your goods to.

Ethnicity

In terms of ethnicity, in 2001 the greater proportion of the city’s population was of White British descent, aged between 25 and 49 and concentrated largely in the Birmingham’s outer wards. However, the majority of the wards closest to the centre of the city have significant proportions of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups, more specifically those of Pakistani, Indian and Black-Caribbean ethnicity.

Those of Pakistani descent comprised the majority in seven of the city’s forty wards. This ethnic group has the second highest proportion of people below the age of fifteen in the city, which indicates that a relatively high number of individuals of Pakistani origin will come of working age within the inner city in the near future.

Whilst there were also significant numbers of individuals of Indian and Black African Caribbean origin in some inner wards, the proportion of under 15s amongst these communities were lower than in the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. As such, they are likely to demonstrate a slightly higher average age in coming years. The proportion of under-15s amongst the White British and Irish populations was relatively low, although compared to other ethnic groups, White British remained the largest ethnic group amongst all ages in the city.

Religion

Birmingham’s religious profile indicated that, parallel to the distribution of BME groups in the city, non-Christian groups were also mainly concentrated in the inner wards of Birmingham in 2001. Although Christianity remains the faith of the majority of Birmingham residents, Islam is followed by a significant number of individuals in the city.

Table 2: Ethnicity of religious groups in Birmingham

Age

A significant number of White British individuals of working age in Birmingham will be moving into the over fifty age bracket in the coming years, mainly in the outer wards of the city.

Figure 2: A projection of the population of Bimingham between 2010 and 2028 per age group

Employment

Although the working population of the city is predicted to rise between now and 2028, an increasing part of the Birmingham labour force will consist of young, BME, non-Christian individuals (more specifically those of Pakistani origin and Muslim faith) and older, White British individuals. These are both demographic groups that currently demonstrate proportionally lower average rates of economic activity.

In short, the key messages are:

9 of Birmingham’s 40 wards had a BME ethnic majority in 2001. These were:

Pakistani majority: Aston, Bordersley Green, Lozells and East Handsworth, Nechells, Sparkbrook, Springfield and Washwood Heath.