Sub-Scotland Economic Statistics Group minutes: September 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Scottish Government (SG)
• Aberdeen City Council
• Biggar Economics
• Clyde Gateway
• Glic
• Glasgow City Council
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)
• Moray Council
• Na h-Eileanan Siar
• National Records of Scotland (NRS)
• North Ayrshire Council
• Office for National Statistics (ONS)
• Scottish Enterprise (SE)
• Shetland
• Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
• South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE)
• Visit Scotland

Items and actions

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Dette Cowden (chair), Scottish Government

Dette Cowden welcomed attendees and discussed the upcoming consultation on SIC code revisions.
Contact Dette by 28 September 2025, email will be circulated.

ONS Website Improvements and Explore Local Statistics

Presenters: Rhia Weston and Sofia Calzavara (ONS)

Website Improvements and findability of local statistics

ONS website features new statistical article format with user-friendly, modern designs which are more accessible. Topic pages are also getting a redesign, other pages will be rolled out as the year goes on.

To improve findability of data and statistics, they are working on site search and will deliver a  new site structure. Currently working on removal of outdated content and delivering data via an API for easier and faster data access.

Explore local statistics (ELS) performs well in off-site search, but not in on-site search or site navigation. On-site search also has problems with specific geography keywords and misspellings, plus users are unable to filter search results by geography level. There are some issues with use of AI as well, specifically accuracy and relevancy. 

Potential solutions that the team has been working on is to add geography filters to site search, ensure ELS is indexed to appear in search results, make ELS more prominent in site navigation, and monitor and improve how AI interprets and presents data and statistics.

Please contact Rhia if you would like to be involved in user research or testing of the ONS website.

Explore Local Statistics (ELS) Tool

ELS is a digital dissemination service to find out more about local areas across the UK, for general public and policy makers who need more granular data. 

ELS launched in March 2024 (beta), live in April 2025. Since its launch, they had an average of 2500 sessions per week.

ELS allows users to find, visualize, compare and download ~80 indicators (half are available for Scotland). Users can search either through an area or a specific indicator.

Current features include custom comparisons, confidence intervals, time series, data exports and downloadable charts. Future plans include population pyramids, improved search and indicator coverage.

• Explore local statistics service
• Methodology article
• Demo video
• Promotion video

Discussion and Q&A

•    AI and Data Access:

Attendees asked about ONS plans for ensuring AI tools provide accurate data. ONS is currently monitoring AI search analytics but there are plans for deeper work on this.

•    Granularity and Coverage:

Attendees asked about lowest available geography and missing Scottish indicators. Sofia clarified that some devolved policy areas (e.g., health, education) lack Scottish data; ELS currently goes down to local authority level, with plans to improve granularity.

•    Data Timeliness:

Attendees noted some ELS data is less current than other sources. Sofia explained this is sometimes due to data quality concerns (especially with LFS) or the need to standardize data from multiple sources. Regular indicators take up to 3 weeks to update, new ones a bit longer.

•    Combining Geographies:

Attendees asked about combining local authorities for custom regions. Currently not possible within ELS, but ONS to consider this as a user need.

•    Resource Directory Proposal:

Attendees suggested creating a directory of all Sub Scotland statistics resources for easier signposting. Dette agreed to coordinate this as a group action.

•    Confidence Intervals:

Attendees asked if the confidence intervals are calculated by the data provider. The answer is yes. 

Scotland Census Tools

Presenter: Christopher McCrum (NRS)

Demonstrated the flexible table builder for Scotland’s Census 2022, allowing users to build custom tables down to output area level (50 households, maybe even a single postcode). Information on the right hand side has background information and user guides. There are links to metadata on variables. Statistical disclosure is applied through the tool itself. Custom tables can be shared by creating an URL. 
Mapping tool and area profiles also available. Users can build custom tables and maps using multiple variables. 
Ongoing topic consultations for the 2031 Census; users are encouraged to provide feedback. 

• Census results 
• Census maps 
• Census 2031 consultation 

Discussion and Q&A

• Download all Data Zone data

At the moment you can only download output areas as a bulk download, but they will take it back as a feedback for the future.

NRS Population Estimates

Presenter: Andrew White (NRS)

Overview of latest population estimates (to mid-2024): Scotland’s population at a record high, driven by international migration. There has been more deaths than births each year since 2014-15. Population in Scotland is ageing. 
As for council areas, population increased in most of them compared to mid-2023. Broadly similar picture over the previous 20 years, the biggest growth was in the Lothians and Glasgow City. Biggest declines were in Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire. All council areas gained population via migration, but only Midlothian had positive natural change (more births than deaths). Cities typically gain international migration but lose people to elsewhere in Scotland.
Ageing population trend continues, most areas have fewer children and more people aged 65+. Rural areas tend to have the highest percentage of people aged 65+. 
2022-based sub-national population projections will be published on 30th September, breakdown to council and health board area level. They expect to produce 2024-based projections next year. 

• Latest publication
• Time series data
• Interactive charts

Discussion and Q&A

•    Data Zone Estimates: 
Attendees asked about Data Zone population estimates dates. There are a few delays due to census rebasing; 2022 data is available, with further updates expected by early 2026. 
Attendees asked if both 2011 and 2022 Data Zone bases will be available. Yes, they will both be published for the next few years.
•    Migration from SIMD perspective
Attendees asked if the migration data will be published at sub council level to gain knowledge from SIMD perspective (it could help assess whether population increases are due to gentrification) and if there is a way to overlay housing (housing stock for local authority). NRS do not typically publish migration at sub-council level, but they will consider publishing migration data at geographies such as SIMD areas. Population estimates respond to changes in residency, not future housing plans.

ONS Regional Accounts Update

Presenter: Trevor Fenton (ONS)

Gross Disposable Household Income (GDHI) data to be published on 10 September 2025, including new geographies. 
Small Area Gross Value Added (GVA) estimates due 22 September 2025 down to Data Zone level on 2011 census basis. Various geographies are available. 
GDHI at Data Zone level expected in December 2025 with full component breakdown.
Request for feedback on bespoke geographies for future inclusion.

AOB and Next Steps

Suggestions for future speakers and topics are welcome.

Actions

• Invite Public Health Scotland - SG
• Share SIC code revision consultation - SG
• Join ONS website testing  - all
• Submit feedback to Scotland’s Census 2031 consultation - all
• Contribute to sub Scotland resource directory - SG/all
• Suggest bespoke geographies for GDHI/GVA - all
• Suggest any other topics/speakers for the next meeting - all