The new Census for 2011 for England and Wales is published today.
The figures below are in thousands.
The number of retired men has increased from 620 to 2161.
The number of retired women has increased from 1148 to 2975.
The number of permanently sick and disabled men has increased from 822 to 1131.The number of permanently sick and disabled women has increased from 759 to 945.
The number of men looking after home and family has increased from 166 to 170.The number of women looking after home and family has increased from 1598 to 2278.
Comment:
By far the greatest overall changes since 2001 are in the number retiring; with women retirees outnumbering male retirees by 286 thousand in 2011.
Sick and permanently disabled men outnumber women by 123 thousand in 2011.
By far the biggest increase in the last 10 years is in women looking after home and family. This figure has increased by 680 thousand. The similar male figure has only increased by 4 thousand.
Policy Implications:
More support for women as full time carers, including financial support.
More adult education for both men and women retirees.
More health for the elderly.
These data indicate more human needs to be met by the welfare state. This may be untimely, but it should still be demanded.
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