More Facts and Figures about Exmoor'

More Facts and Figures about Exmoor's Economy

Overview of the Economy of Exmoor National Park

Exmoor's Economy - a profile

The resident population within Exmoor National Park is estimated at 10,645 (1991 census).
Average population density is 15.4 people per km2 one of the lowest in England.
The main settlements are Lynton and Lynmouth (1,658); Dulverton (1,347) and Porlock (1,332).
933,000 people live within 50km driving distance of Exmoor and the nearest moderately sized settlements to Exmoor are Minehead (pop. 10,300); Tiverton (pop. 17,187); South Molton ( ) and Barnstaple (pop. 20,767).
Nearest large urban areas are Taunton (40km, 43,000 population); Bridgwater (45km); Exeter (60km, 111,000); Bristol (100km, 400,000); Torbay (90km, 123,000); Yeovil (80km, 37,000); Swindon ( km, 180,000); Poole & Bournemouth ( km, 350,000), Bath (115km, 170,000); Plymouth (110km, 253,000).
Exmoor has a higher percentage of people over 45 than Devon and Somerset as a whole.
At the time of the most recent census (1991) there were 4,916 (55%) economically active adults and 4,015 economically inactive (students, retired, ill-health, etc.). (By 1996 it is estimated that the overall economic activity rate for Exmoor was less than 50% compared to the national figure of 61.5%).
The Exmoor economy is characterised by a high proportion of small, 'micro businesses', with less than five employees and a high proportion of self-employed. (39.0% of economically active adults in the National Park were classified self-employed in 1991 census).
The largest sectors for employment are distribution and catering (31.6%); other services (30.9%) and agriculture (19.4%) (1991 census) and there is a need to broaden the economic base to help compensate for job losses in traditional industries.
It is estimated that the foot and mouth crisis in 2001 led to a loss of £16 million to the Exmoor economy through its impact on farming, tourism, retail and services businesses.
Average earnings are relatively low in the National Park because of the dominance of agriculture and tourism and the amount of low-paid casual and seasonal work undertaken.
(Full-time male weekly earnings averaged £304 in North Devon and West Somerset in 1998 and was less than 80% of the UK average of £384.50).
A high proportion of local people rely on more than one source of income to compensate for high seasonality of many local jobs.
Part-time employment is high at over 40% in most National Park wards.
In 2000 unemployment in the National Park was running at roughly 1.4% in the summer and 2.9% in the winter with about 47% of the economically active population employed.
Unemployment rates have been relatively low compared with the county and regional rates and much below the national average. (2.4% Exmoor National Park, Somerset 3.1%, SW 3.4%, UK 4.7% in September 1998). However, there are exceptions to this and the winter rates in coastal wards, particularly Lynton and Lynmouth, have been consistently higher than the National Park average (1996 - 10%, 1997 - 6.3%, 1998 - 5%).
There is a lack of job opportunities locally or those who do become unemployed, particularly in the skilled and better paid work.
Improved access to education is a priority to improve literacy rates that are very poor within the National Park area, and for those who wish to retrain but are remote from centres of higher or further education.
Many local people are unable to afford to buy or rent open market housing within the National Park due to relatively low local incomes and high house prices caused by external demand, including for second homes. (At £182,000 the average house price within the National Park is considerably higher than the national and regional averages - data from house price survey undertaken in August 2000).
Adverse market conditions that face conventional business include poor accessibility and transport links; limited labour supply and skills, and lack of suitable premises.
Conversely, there are distinct advantages relating to the Exmoor 'brand' and the area's status as a high quality landscape of national and international importance.

Source: A Statement on the Economy of Exmoor, June 2002, Exmoor National Park Authority