OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

North Ayrshire

Economic profile. Data last updated 2026-03-28.

North Ayrshire supports 40,430 workplace jobs with median earnings broadly in line with the England average.

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Population

134,010

↓ 2.8%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

40,430

Median Annual Earnings

£34,689

108th of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£288,900

↑ 1.8%108th of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£61,064

160th of 391

England: £63,763

Source: ONS, Nomis, HM Land Registry, 2024-2025·Last updated March 2026

Demographics & Population

Mid-year population estimates (2024) and Census 2021 age profile.

Mid-year population estimate of 134,010. Population has declined by 2.8% over five years, significantly below the England rate of 11.4%.

Population

134,010

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

59.8%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

15.6%

Over 65

24.6%

Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, Census 2021, 2024·Last updated March 2026

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £34,689 are in line with the England median of £33,080.

Median Annual

£34,689

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£11,675

90th Percentile

N/A

90/10 Ratio

N/A

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 23.0% (male median £38,114, female median £29,357). This is significantly below the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

23.0%

England: 28.2%

Source: ASHE via Nomis, 2025·Last updated March 2026

Industry Structure

Location quotients and shift-share analysis for North Ayrshire's economy.

The most specialised sectors are Mining & quarrying (LQ 4.55) and Electricity, gas & air conditioning (LQ 2.73). Arts, entertainment & recreation shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Professional, scientific & technical underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Human health & social work

Most Specialised

Mining & quarrying

England: LQ 4.55

Fastest Growing

Arts, entertainment & recreation

Specialised Sectors

9

England: LQ > 1.25

Source: BRES via Nomis, 2020-2024·Last updated March 2026

Housing & Property Market

Estimated house prices for North Ayrshire vs England, 2015-2025.

The median house price of £288,900 is in line with the England median of £290,000. The price-to-earnings ratio is 8.3x. Prices have risen 1.8% over the past year.

Median Price

£288,900

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

12-Month Change

1.8%

Source: HM Land Registry, Census 2021, 2015-2025·Last updated March 2026

Benchmark to national figures

Comparing North Ayrshire to Scotland and Great Britain averages.

North Ayrshire's median earnings of £34,689 are 7% above the Scotland average of £32,365. House prices are 7% above the Scotland median. The claimant rate of 4.1% is higher than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£34,689

Scotland: £32,365(7% above)
GB: £32,401(7% above)

Median house price

£288,900

Scotland: £269,541(7% above)
GB: £269,841(7% above)

Claimant rate

4.1%

Scotland: 2.8%(1.3pp higher)
GB: 3.5%(0.6pp higher)

GVA per job

£61,064

Scotland: £61,363
GB: £61,125

Working-age population

59.8%

Scotland: 61.4%(1.6pp lower)
GB: 61.9%(2.1pp lower)

Population change (5yr)

-2.8%

Scotland: 4.0%(6.8pp lower)
GB: 10.3%(13.1pp lower)

Country averages computed from local authority-level data (Scotland: 32 LAs, GB: 348 LAs). May differ slightly from official published national statistics.