In Orkney, out of all those aged 16+ years (18,448), 11,268 people are economically active – this number excludes students who may also be in employment. The information from Scotland’s Census 2022 also records that 6,840 people are economically inactive. This means that they are not in paid employment.
Of those who have retired, there are 5,001 who are economically inactive.
There are many reasons why people are unable to be in paid employment. In Orkney 446 people are unable to work due to family/ caring commitments. and 694 are long term sick or have a disability which prevents paid employment.
Looking at the figures in more detail for Orkney:
| Women Total aged 16+ | in paid employment |
| 9,473 | 5,470 |
| Men Total aged 16+ | in paid employment |
| 8,975 | 5,798 |
For women who are not in paid employment, 369 have caring and family commitments, compared to 77 men.
Those with long term sickness or a disability which prevents them from being in paid employment works out at 369 women and slightly fewer men at 325.
There are also 98 people who are recorded as being ‘long term unemployed’.
In a previous article The Orkney News published the figures for those who are students:
Most people in Orkney who are in paid employment work between 31 and 48 hours per week ( 5,882), however, 1,742 are working over 49 hours per week.
The largest sector for employment in Orkney is health and social care. The figures in more detail:
| Health and Social Care | 1,617 |
| All Retail, including garages | 1,193 |
| Farming and Fishing | 1,046 |
| Construction | 996 |
| Transport | 921 |
| Education | 912 |
| Public Admin & Social Security | 906 |
| Manufacturing | 774 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | 643 |
| Professional Scientific & Technical | 527 |
| Admin & Support Services | 413 |
| Arts & Recreation | 310 |
| Quarrying | 180 |
| Information & Communication | 166 |
| Financial & Insurance Services | 135 |
| Energy Supply | 111 |
| Real Estate | 74 |
| Sewage and Waste Water | 65 |
In some ways theses figures may be surprising considering how Tourism is seen as so important to the islands. Whilst Tourism is good for retail and accommodation, the largest employment sectors are in providing health and social care to islanders, farming, fishing, transport and education. This reflects the economics of island life.
Fiona Grahame
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