Since 1991, there has been a rapid growth in the population of Aylesbury Vale, from 147,000 to 173,500 residents. This 18 per cent increase is well above the national average. The working age population is now 112,300.
Buckinghamshire has a highly skilled workforce, comparatively low unemployment rates and particularly high GCSE attainment and staying-on rates following compulsory education.The number of those with NVQ Level Four and Five qualifications is notably higher than regional and national averages.
Aylesbury Vale District accounts for almost 82,000 (around one third) of Bucks’ 247,000 jobs. The largest employment sectors in the district are the Public Sector (31%) and Financial and Business Services (FBS) (23%). Around 50% of the county’s financial services employment is located in Aylesbury Vale, with a similar proportion in public sector employment
Buckinghamshire’s good performance in terms of qualifications is reflected in the high proportion of knowledge-based businesses in the county. According to Local Futures Group 2006 State of the County report, the county ranks fifth (against 53 national sub-regions) in terms of the proportion of employment in knowledge-driven sectors:
- 30.6% of employees in Bucks work in knowledge-driven sectors
- This compares well to the South East at 27.2% and nationally at 23.4%;
- while between 1998 and 2003, knowledge economy employment in the county rose
by 20.2%, compared to the South East at 12.6% and nationally at 12%.
.
