Socio-economic statistics for Oakenshaw, Durham

Is Oakenshaw in County Durham a nice place to live or is it a bit rough? We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics and demographics from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Oakenshaw older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Oakenshaw and County Durham? What is the claimant count in Oakenshaw and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

What are the occupations of the residents of Oakenshaw?

The largest employment sector in Oakenshaw is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.

Sector	Proportion
Professional Occupations	15.05%
Caring, leisure & Other Services	12.72%
Associate Professional & Technical	12.2%
Skilled Trades	11.9%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials	11.68%
Elementary Occupations	10.09%
Administrative & Secretarial	9.57%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives	8.28%

Source: Office for National Statistics (30 June 2020)

Oakenshaw Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Willington and Hunwick.

Age Band	Proportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Oakenshaw Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of County Durham.

Area	Unemployed	Yearly Change
County Durham	3.4%	-0.7%
North East	4.3%	-0.5%
England	3.8%	-0.3%
UK	3.7%	-0.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023

The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Oakenshaw on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Oakenshaw.

Economic Status	Proportion
In Employment	48.85%
In Part-Time Work	26.08%
Unemployed	5.69%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

73.92% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Oakenshaw

Oakenshaw Health Statistics

Willington and Hunwick has a significantly lower proportion of residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.

Area	VG	G	F	B	VB
Willington and Hunwick	41.56%	33.07%	17.34%	6.23%	1.8%
County Durham	42.96%	33.9%	15.63%	5.78%	1.72%
North East	44.58%	33.46%	14.95%	5.41%	1.61%
England	48.49%	33.71%	12.65%	3.98%	1.17%

VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

How has the health of residents in County Durham changed since 2011?

County Durham residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 1.08% between the 2011 and 2021 census.

Year	VG	G	F	B	VB
2011	42.35%	33.43%	16.06%	6.35%	1.82%
2021	42.96%	33.9%	15.63%	5.78%	1.72%

VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Source: Census 2011/2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Oakenshaw Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Oakenshaw residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Oakenshaw to the national average for England.

Level	Willington and Hunwick	England
No Qualifications	23.02%	18.08%
Level 1	9.04%	9.69%
Level 2	15.09%	13.32%
Apprenticeship	6.48%	5.32%
Level 3	17.62%	16.92%
Level 4	26.38%	33.92%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

How many residents own or rent their home in Oakenshaw and County Durham

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Oakenshaw either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 62.2 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 37.8 of Oakenshaw residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.

Area	Owned	Rented
Willington and Hunwick	62.2%	37.8%
County Durham	62.54%	37.46%
North East	60.27%	39.73%
England	61.31%	38.69%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Oakenshaw has a higher level of home ownership than than the national average.

Oakenshaw compared to other wards in County Durham

#	Ward	Owned	Rented
1	Durham South	88.35%	11.65%
2	North Lodge	87.74%	12.26%
3	Seaham	77.05%	22.95%
4	Lanchester	76.54%	23.46%
5	Chester-le-Street South	75.71%	24.29%
6	Framwellgate and Newton Hall	73.26%	26.74%
7	Benfieldside	73.18%	26.82%
8	Chester-le-Street East	72.76%	27.24%
9	Weardale	72.34%	27.66%
10	Sedgefield	72.2%	27.8%
11	Neville's Cross	71.2%	28.8%
12	Aycliffe North and Middridge	71.06%	28.94%
13	Burnopfield and Dipton	71.02%	28.98%
14	Barnard Castle West	70.86%	29.14%
15	Evenwood	70.57%	29.43%
16	Pelton	69.34%	30.66%
17	Delves Lane	69.07%	30.93%
18	Chester-le-Street North	68.58%	31.42%
19	Lumley	68.51%	31.49%
20	Leadgate and Medomsley	68.17%	31.83%
21	Passfield	68.08%	31.92%
22	Bishop Auckland Town	67.65%	32.35%
23	Esh and Witton Gilbert	67.25%	32.75%
24	West Auckland	66.66%	33.34%
25	Sherburn	66.08%	33.92%
26	Tanfield	65.17%	34.83%
27	Spennymoor	64.83%	35.17%
28	Barnard Castle East	64.21%	35.79%
29	Blackhalls	64.14%	35.86%
30	Chilton (County Durham)	63.51%	36.49%
31	Coxhoe	63.2%	36.8%
32	Wingate	62.68%	37.32%
33	Easington	62.33%	37.67%
34	Tow Law	62.21%	37.79%
35	Crook	62.21%	37.79%
36	Willington and Hunwick	62.2%	37.8%
37	Consett South	61.27%	38.73%
38	Belmont (County Durham)	60.72%	39.28%
39	Shotton and South Hetton	60.53%	39.47%
40	Aycliffe East	60.1%	39.9%
41	Trimdon and Thornley	59.88%	40.12%
42	Tudhoe	59.79%	40.21%
43	Sacriston	59.02%	40.98%
44	Bishop Middleham and Cornforth	58.9%	41.1%
45	Deerness	58.86%	41.14%
46	Peterlee West	58.58%	41.42%
47	Dawdon	57.98%	42.02%
48	Murton	57.8%	42.2%
49	Brandon	56.97%	43.03%
50	Consett North	56.94%	43.06%
51	Shildon and Dene Valley	56.39%	43.61%
52	Craghead and South Moor	55.82%	44.18%
53	Deneside	54.34%	45.66%
54	Annfield Plain	54.29%	45.71%
55	Ferryhill	53.56%	46.44%
56	Coundon	53.3%	46.7%
57	Horden	50.47%	49.53%
58	Woodhouse Close	49.81%	50.19%
59	Chester-le-Street West Central	49.45%	50.55%
60	Stanley (County Durham)	48.6%	51.4%
61	Peterlee East	47.87%	52.13%
62	Aycliffe West	43.68%	56.32%
63	Elvet and Gilesgate	28.95%	71.05%

Oakenshaw is ranked 36 out of 63 wards in County Durham for the percentage of home owners.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Oakenshaw & County Durham Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Oakenshaw in the County Durham local area district.

Oakenshaw has a lower rate of immigrants than County Durham, the North East region and England as a whole.

Area	Born in UK	Born outside UK
Willington and Hunwick	97.15%	2.85%
County Durham	95.62%	4.38%
North East	93.23%	6.77%
England	82.65%	17.35%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Oakenshaw compared to other wards in County Durham

#	Ward	Born in UK	Born outside UK
1	Elvet and Gilesgate	78.64%	21.36%
2	Neville's Cross	81.36%	18.64%
3	Belmont	89.99%	10.01%
4	Framwellgate and Newton Hall	90.46%	9.54%
5	Durham South	92.44%	7.56%
6	Brandon	93.64%	6.36%
7	Consett South	94.16%	5.84%
8	Coxhoe	94.97%	5.03%
9	Deerness	95.12%	4.88%
10	Aycliffe North and Middridge	95.25%	4.75%
11	Aycliffe West	95.31%	4.69%
12	West Auckland	95.89%	4.11%
13	Bishop Middleham and Cornforth	95.98%	4.02%
14	Sacriston	96.1%	3.9%
15	Dawdon	96.18%	3.82%
16	Barnard Castle West	96.25%	3.75%
17	Delves Lane	96.3%	3.7%
18	Craghead and South Moor	96.33%	3.67%
19	Chester-le-Street West Central	96.33%	3.67%
20	Woodhouse Close	96.33%	3.67%
21	Benfieldside	96.34%	3.66%
22	Tudhoe	96.37%	3.63%
23	Chester-le-Street East	96.52%	3.48%
24	Esh and Witton Gilbert	96.56%	3.44%
25	Leadgate and Medomsley	96.6%	3.4%
26	Bishop Auckland Town	96.63%	3.37%
27	Shildon and Dene Valley	96.73%	3.27%
28	Chester-le-Street South	96.74%	3.26%
29	Ferryhill	96.74%	3.26%
30	Consett North	96.75%	3.25%
31	Barnard Castle East	96.78%	3.22%
32	Sherburn	96.81%	3.19%
33	Annfield Plain	96.83%	3.17%
34	Shotton and South Hetton	96.88%	3.12%
35	Burnopfield and Dipton	96.92%	3.08%
36	Sedgefield	96.92%	3.08%
37	Weardale	96.97%	3.03%
38	Murton	97.01%	2.99%
39	Lanchester	97.01%	2.99%
40	Aycliffe East	97.07%	2.93%
41	Chilton	97.08%	2.92%
42	Willington and Hunwick	97.15%	2.85%
43	North Lodge	97.16%	2.84%
44	Peterlee East	97.19%	2.81%
45	Horden	97.2%	2.8%
46	Coundon	97.24%	2.76%
47	Stanley	97.31%	2.69%
48	Passfield	97.38%	2.62%
49	Tanfield	97.4%	2.6%
50	Chester-le-Street North	97.41%	2.59%
51	Spennymoor	97.42%	2.58%
52	Pelton	97.44%	2.56%
53	Lumley	97.54%	2.46%
54	Blackhalls	97.55%	2.45%
55	Trimdon and Thornley	97.56%	2.44%
56	Deneside	97.72%	2.28%
57	Crook	97.73%	2.27%
58	Easington	97.81%	2.19%
59	Seaham	97.83%	2.17%
60	Peterlee West	97.88%	2.12%
61	Evenwood	97.9%	2.1%
62	Tow Law	97.91%	2.09%
63	Wingate	97.91%	2.09%

';Oakenshaw is ranked 42 out of 63 wards in County Durham for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What is the population of Oakenshaw and County Durham?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in County Durham including Oakenshaw. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward	Population
Annfield Plain	8227
Aycliffe East	8281
Aycliffe North and Middridge	10717
Aycliffe West	7969
Barnard Castle East	8532
Barnard Castle West	8539
Belmont	14730
Benfieldside	8200
Bishop Auckland Town	7861
Bishop Middleham and Cornforth	3669
Blackhalls	7871
Brandon	10300
Burnopfield and Dipton	8193
Chester-le-Street East	3909
Chester-le-Street North	3899
Chester-le-Street South	7516
Chester-le-Street West Central	7931
Chilton	4441
Consett North	7868
Consett South	5610
Coundon	4417
Coxhoe	12514
Craghead and South Moor	8428
Crook	12374
Dawdon	8826
Deerness	12803
Delves Lane	8638
Deneside	7085
Durham South	2200
Easington	7629
Elvet and Gilesgate	12245
Esh and Witton Gilbert	8172
Evenwood	8208
Ferryhill	10798
Framwellgate and Newton Hall	14597
Horden	7397
Lanchester	7620
Leadgate and Medomsley	8866
Lumley	7280
Murton	8017
Neville's Cross	16042
North Lodge	3464
Passfield	4338
Pelton	13062
Peterlee East	7209
Peterlee West	8187
Sacriston	7697
Seaham	7011
Sedgefield	8239
Sherburn	8500
Shildon and Dene Valley	13364
Shotton and South Hetton	9394
Spennymoor	11273
Stanley	8968
Tanfield	8057
Tow Law	4687
Trimdon and Thornley	13207
Tudhoe	9398
Weardale	7980
West Auckland	8821
Willington and Hunwick	9000
Wingate	4332
Woodhouse Close	8542
County Durham Total	533149

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.

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