Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Healthier Communities and Adults

There are 117,300 adults resident in Stockton on Tees (Mid 2006 Estimate from Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit). This equates to 61,000 men and 56,300 women. Projected figures from the Office of National Statistics suggest that the number of people of working age will decrease by 2% by 2029. The demographic of adults includes school leavers to those reaching normal retirement age, and this group is growing older because there are declines in the under 45s and increases in the over 45s. There group is very diverse and includes 16 - 19 year olds who indicate the number of school leavers entering the job market and demand for higher and further education. The 20 - 44 age group is very mobile and future numbers depend on the employment trends in the area. A fall in numbers may have a dampening effect on demand for housing and the number of women of child bearing age. The 45 - retirement age group has recorded large increases as the post war baby boomers enter the bracket and as early retirement becomes increasingly difficult the needs and services of the working population may change.

As a borough, Stockton has a diverse economic, social and health profile, with certain wards ranking most materially and health disadvantaged in England, in close proximity to areas which are comparable with the most prosperous and healthy in the country. Overall, Stockton-on-Tees has seen a reduction of health inequalities over the past decade, though in many of these areas the Borough remains above the England and Wales levels. This includes life expectancy, deaths by all causes, death from avoidable causes, coronary heart disease and cancer amongst males. In other areas of health Stockton has not only narrowed the gap but is seeing better trends than England and Wales, such as low birth weight babies, under 18 conception rates and deaths by accidents.