Population Trends in Greater Manchester
Manchester has the largest population of all the ten Greater Manchester districts and Bury has the smallest population. Between 1991 and 2000 Rochdale experienced the largest population increase with a net change of 2.9%. The population of Greater Manchester is projected to fall by 36,300 (-1.4%) people between 2000 and 2020. All Greater Manchester districts experience a net loss in civilian migration and other changes, with the exception of Manchester, Rochdale and Wigan.

By 2000, the Metropolitan County of Greater Manchester had a resident population of around 2,585,800, which constituted an increase of 0.34% on the previous year. This followed a long term gradual decline in Manchester's population, (with the exception of a 0.5% gain in 1997-1998).

Estimates of the population in the city centre itself have shown a gradual increase as new residential areas have been, (and are being) created. Many long standing derelict mill and warehouse complexes have been refurbished for living purposes over recent years. Asking prices for luxury city centre apartments broke through the £2 million mark in 2000. The age structure of new immigrants (of all ethnicities) is relatively young with 41.9% of Manchester residents aged 24 and under compared with 30.9% for England & Wales.

After several months of joint work between Manchester City Council and the Office of National Statistics, it was announced in December 2003 that the city’s current population was 422,300, a total increase of 29,500 from the 2001 Census estimate. This is an increase of 20,000 on the mid-2001 estimates and 22,000 on the mid-2002 estimates

The inner city district of Manchester is a multicultural centre with a significant ethnic minority comprising 12.6% of the district population. The largest group is Pakistani (3.8%). Sizeable Pakistani populations are also to be found in the neighbouring districts of Oldham (4.1%) and Rochdale (5.5%). A large Indian population (5.2%) lives in neighbouring Bolton. Significantly, one in eight of all Pakistanis and one in twelve of all Bangladeshis in Britain reside in Greater Manchester. This cultural diversity is expected to increase over time, given existing trends.

More than 10% of the total working population in the Metropolitan County are employed in the central ward of Manchester. The 1991 Census indicates the number of jobs in the district at 255,050 of which only 96,780 (38%) were filled by Manchester residents. Around 158,270 people travel into the district as commuters to work whilst 34,530 commute out of the city. The extent of these flows illustrates the interdependence of the districts within Greater Manchester. Between 1998 and 1999 the employee base of the county out performed both the North West government office region and Great Britain as a whole. By 1999 the Public Sector represented just over a quarter of the county's employee base. Manufacturing comprised under just 17% of the total employee base in Greater Manchester. Over the longer period 1965 ­ 1998 male employment has decreased by more than a third. The decline ceased in 1996 when male employment began to increase slightly. In contrast, female employment had increased over the longer period but peaked in 1996. Between 1998 and 1999, there was a significant increase in female full time and male part time employment. Over the longer period 1965-1998, the employee base of the inner city districts of Manchester and Salford were hardest hit. In contrast, Stockport was the only district to expand; these differences partly reflect a very significant increase in female employment. At October 2001 Manchester has the highest rate of unemployment (7.3%) and Stockport has the lowest rate of unemployment (1.8%).

The most common occupation types fall within the clerical and secretarial sectors and account for 170,650 jobs (16.7%). Managers and administrators account for 14.1%. Manchester has a significant financial sector with banking featuring highly amongst employment types in the city. Manchester has the highest gross average weekly earnings of £420.40. Oldham has the lowest gross average weekly earnings of £345.80.

Of all towns and cities in England, according to the British Tourist Association, Manchester attracted the third highest number of foreign visitors in 1997, boosting employment in hotels and restaurants. The Marketing Manchester organisation reported that in 1999 tourism contributed £1.5 billion (6% GDP) to the county and accounted for employment of about 45,000 people. The 2002 Commonwealth Games, which were hosted in Manchester, also generated many new hotel developments.

Many major manufacturing companies are based in and around the Greater Manchester area. Many are based in neighbouring Trafford Park, including notable manufacturers like Coats Viyella, T&N, Renold and Cirqual. In 1997, Greater Manchester had a Gross Manufacturing Output of £19.4 billion.

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