Glenrothes - Demographics

Demographics

In 1950 the population in the Glenrothes designated area was approximately 1,000 people who were located in the hamlets of Woodside and Cadham and in the numerous farm steadings that were spread throughout the area. Population growth in the early phases of the town was described as being slow due to the dependence on the growth of work places at the Rothes Colliery. In 1960 the town population was shown to have increased to 12,499 people rising to 28,098 by 1969. The town experienced its greatest levels of population growth between 1964 and 1969 with an average inward migration level of 1,900 persons per annum. In 1981 Glenrothes' population was estimated to have risen to 35,000 and at the time the GDC was disbanded in 1995 it was estimated that the town's population stood at just over 40,000 people.

The 2001 census recorded the population of Glenrothes at 38,679. A more recent population estimate of the town was recorded at 38,750 in 2008. When combined with the adjoining settlements of Leslie, Markinch, Thornton and Coaltown of Balgonie the Glenrothes urban area has a population of 47,280. The demographic make-up of the population is much in line with the rest of Scotland. The age group from 30-44 year olds form the largest portion of the population (23%). The median age of males and females living in Glenrothes in 2001 was 36 and 37 years, compared to 37 and 39 years for those in the whole of Scotland.

The place of birth of the town's residents was 97% United Kingdom (including 88.28% from Scotland), 0.26% Republic of Ireland, 1.04% from other European Union countries, and 1.69% from elsewhere in the world. The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 41.35% in full-time employment, 11.61% in part-time employment, 5.69% self-employed, 4.4% unemployed, 2.61% students with jobs, 4.46% students without jobs, 14.56% retired, 5.42% looking after home or family, 6.65% permanently sick or disabled, and 3.22% economically inactive for other reasons. Compared with the average demography of Scotland, Glenrothes has low proportions of people born outside the United Kingdom and has fewer proportions for people over 75 years old.

A study undertaken by Heriot-Watt University in 2004 estimated that the average weekly wage in the town was £433, which was 5% lower than the Fife average of £455. This is reflective of the type of jobs available, including higher than average employment in manufacturing and the public sector. The working age population of the Glenrothes area in 2009 was 31,078, which represents 62.1% of the total population. The employment rate, as a percentage of the working age population in the Glenrothes area is 79.3%, compared against the Fife average of 70.9%. In 2010 there were approximately 6,300 benefit claimants, a rise of 11.8% above the pre-recession (2008) claimant level. Benefit claimants make up 20.7% of the total working age population, against a Fife average of 16.7%.