Page 4 - Neath Port Talbot Skills Report 2024

Information taken from the ONS 2021 census data.
Neath Port Talbot’s population increased by 1.8% since
2011, growing by circa 2,500 to 142,300. Population is
expected to increase by 1.4% between 2021 and 2026,
adding a further 2,087 residents.
When looking at working age populations (16-64) there
are circa 87,000 residents however 34% of these are 50-64
and will be due to retire within the next 15 years
The key element of this information is the comparison of
the 50–64 age group with the under 15 population. The
under 15’s being 4,500 less than the 50-64, therefore a
potential issue to fill the retirement hole in the coming
years.
This however does not provide a completed picture; social
issues need also to be considered.
Out of the current working population (16-64
demographic), 16% are either Long Term Sick / Disabled,
Looking after home and or family or have other
considerations preventing them from working. This
equates to around 19,000 working age adults in the
county.
Long Term sickness being the highest number of
economically inactive circa 9,600.
It is estimated by the ONS that approximately 23% of 16–
24-year-olds are NEET* in NPT (this equates to around
1,900) which represents just under 20% of the working
age inactive figure.
This number has also been growing with every census,
suggesting that young adults are either less healthy or
less engaged with the employment offer in the county.
Out of the economically inactive:
• 14.9% want a job, 85.1% don’t
The county also has a high proportion of workless
households
• 19.9% of households are workless 3% higher than
Wales average
*Numbers are estimations based on low sample data
A large part of addressing skills gaps is understanding the
demographic situation in the county. More understanding
is required to investigate why so many young adults are
becoming NEET
How can the county encourage the 14.9% of inactive
working age population who want a job back into work?
Can more be done to encourage those that are long term
sick to potentially reskill / upskill?
Why does the county have such a high level of long-term
sickness?
Does the ageing population create issues within public
services and local labour market availability?
Addressing these concerns will certainly help the labour
shortage and skills gaps currently in place. It may also
have an added benefit of releasing some pressure from
public services
Demographics
Figure 1 above clearly shows that population increase is
being predominantly caused by retirement age groups
although there has been a small increase in under 15’s
• 65 years and over, 15.5% increase
• 15 to 64 years, 2.3% decrease
• under 15 years, 2.5% increase (although 0-4 age
group has decreased highlighting a recent drop in
birth rate)
Figure 1
Age demographic % change from 2011 - 2021
Figure 2
Age demographic % of population 2011 - 2021
Neath Port Talbot population change, Census 2021 – ONS
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