Retaining young people within our area is a major issue, as the population estimates for Conwy County Borough show a big gap in the age structure between the ages of around 18 to 45, and a smaller, though still noticeable gap, in Denbighshire. This is the age group which is mostly likely to be economically and socially mobile, seeking work, education and other social opportunities outside the area. Many young people have to leave the area for higher education and though this in itself is not an issue the failure to attract them back to the area after graduation leads to a generational imbalance.

There are a variety of possible reasons for this trend, but consultation conducted with Bangor University students identified the lack of local employment opportunities as one of the key issues. Lack of suitable and affordable housing can also be a major push-factor.  When deciding where to settle, young people are usually looking for more than just a job; they want to live in a place that also matches their lifestyle, whether that is about access to cultural opportunities (nightlife or outdoor pursuits for example), or about services and support that are in place to help them to start and raise a family.

Population pyramids, produced from mid-year population estimates from the Office for National Statistics, show the age structure gaps in population aged between 18 and 45 years. From looking at these pyramids, we can see that our population is very obviously not the traditional pyramid shape, which would show lots of children and young people at the ‘base’ supporting a narrower ‘peak’ of elderly people. Our population is very top-heavy with older age groups, particularly those aged 55+. Though other demographic drivers have all had an impact on this population imbalance (improved life expectancy, reduced fertility and the effects of the large post war baby boom cohort moving into older age groups), out-migration of young people is also a key influence, and one which has impacts on the economic well-being of the area as well as on its social and cultural make-up.

Retaining an age-balanced population has benefits for the whole of society. The interchange of shared information, knowledge, and culture between generations helps form a vibrant, innovative and integrated resilient community – both ‘moving with the times’ and ‘passing on wisdom’ are essential in building social resilience. Community support and caring roles are also fostered through intergenerational integration, not just within families but with neighbours, friends and through volunteering. This can be a two-way process, with older residents helping with child care and development as well as younger people providing formal and informal care for older residents. (see ‘living in isolation and access to services‘ for further information).

For employers and the economy in general, recruiting, retaining and developing young people within the workforce helps tackle issues such as an ageing workforce, skills gaps and shortages, talent development, succession planning and customer insight into emerging markets and trends (see ‘prosperous well-being‘ for further information).