The overall population of the Dorset sub-region is approximately 700,000.  Within this area the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole have populations of 165,000 and 138,000 respectively.  However, the Bournemouth and Poole conurbation also extends into Christchurch, Ferndown and Wimborne, and together it has a population that exceeds 400,000.

	Bournemouth UA	Poole UA	Remainder of County	Total
Males	79,500	65,700	194,000	339,200
Females	84,000	71,400	207,100	362,600
Total	163,600	137,100	401,100	701,800
of which working age	100,614	79,929	221,006	401,549

	ONS 2005

Due to the county’s high quality of life and outstanding natural environment, the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole area has traditionally been a popular location for retirees.  However, recent changes in work life balance preferences have increased people’s desire to stay in or return to the area to pursue a career.  At the same time recent advancements in information and communications technologies have enabled both employers and employees to thrive in the area.  As such we anticipate that the working age population will increase in the future.

We would like to highlight that the opportunities in the area are available to anyone and everyone.  The proportion of the local population that class themselves as ethnic minorities is 4.4%, which is in line with the regional average of 4.6%.