Global Demographic Trends

1.0 Introduction

Population trends always have impacts on different aspects of life. The current global demographic trends have impacted greatly on the increase workforce diversity. This has been attributed by a massive increase in global population. According to Benjamin (2013), the world population is estimated to be about 7.2 billion. This is projected to rise by about one billion people in the subsequently twelve years (Benjamin 2013). With demographic change occurring so rapidly, like never before, worldwide employers have an easy time looking for the new employees to recruit. That is, with the rising global population, employers will soon have increased workforce diversity. There will be having employees from all ages, religions, belief and employees from both genders. Additionally, with the rising global population, the availability of skilled workers is actually increasing. This means that employers in all markets in the country will not have to suffer a demographic pinch while hiring new employees.

1.1 Ways in Which Current Global Demographic Trends Tend to Increase Workforce Diversity

At present, the current global demographic trends can be associated with globalisation. Globalisation is the progression of global integration emanating from the exchange of world ideas, opinions, products, and other elements of culture (Geyer 2006). Globalisation has made it easy for people to migrate from one place to another through the improved technology and quick means of transport (Barak 2014). As a result of people migrating from one part of the world to another with ease, demographic trends has changed giving rise to the current demographic trend. In this part, this paper will seek to identify and evaluate certain national demographic trends, mainly with reference to gender, religion, age, belief and diversity. Thus, the following are current national demographic trends in the UK:

1.1.1 Increasing Population

Today, the UK's population is increasing quickly thanks to the globalisation. In the year 2013 approximately 62.3 million citizens were residing in the UK (Benjamin 2013). This was about 510,000 more citizens who were living in the UK the previous year (Benjamin 2013). Further research by Benjamin shows that by the year 2035, the size of UK's populace is projected to be approximately 73 million.

With the reference to all four countries in the UK, population increase between the year 2013 and 2035 is projected to be highest in England (Barak 2014). According to Barak (2014), England population will increase by 19% to 62.1 million. Wales' population is anticipated to increase by 13% to 3.4 million, Northern Ireland by 11% to two million, and Scottish by 12% to 5.8 million in the same period (Barak 2014).

These projections are based majorly on the rate of people migrating into the UK from other countries of the world. Over the past decades, people have been migrating to the UK as they try to seek out employment opportunities (Benjamin 2013). Although globalisation has played a very big role, UK has many international organisations which have based their operations in the country. Additionally, there is synchronisation of employment laws, encouraging diversity across the country (Barak 2014). This has greatly affected the movement of people into the UK. Some of these global enterprises includes; TATA industries, BP, Vodafone, KPMG, Toyota, Samsung, among others. With high rate of population in the UK, these global enterprises have an easy time recruiting their employing. This is due to the fact that high population in the country increases employees' diversity.

1.1.2. Ethnic Diversity

It is a fact that increased relocation to the UK in the recent past decades has given rise to a more ethnically assorted population (Geyer 2006). In 2013, total migration into the UK amounted to 250,000 proportionate to approximately 150,000 in 2003 (Geyer 2006). Greater contact to new cultures expands the horizons of the native population, who desire to experience something new from new immigrants. Immigration into the UK has continued to bring different people from different cultures, race, religion and beliefs together. This helps the companies in the UK to take care of distinction of values and beliefs, both religious and social, of all people residing in UK. Additionally, thanks to globalisation, trends have changed giving rise to the aspect of transgender. The issue of transgender has come about as a result of people from various regions sharing ideas thus enlightening one another.

This has created a situation whereby every company in the country is able to employ different kind of employees as they wish (Barak 2014). Employers are able to understand cultural differences of all recruited people in their companies. Thus, it is true to say that current international demographic trends are inclined to increase workforce diversity in the UK. As a result of the current international demographic trends, companies and industries operating in the UK are able to recruit people from different parts of the world. Additionally, on top of increasing workforce diversity, the recruiting companies also able to enjoy ethnic diversity.

1.1.3 Smaller Households

Currently, thanks to globalisation, many young people are able to migrate from various countries into the UK. As a result, there are more people in the UK now staying alone. The number of single person family increased by almost 30% in 2013 proportionate to 10% in 1963 (Benjamin 2013). According to Benjamin (2013), it has been estimated that the number of one-person families in England will rise by 60% to almost 11 million families by the year 2031.

Approximately 4.3 million citizens who lived alone in the year 2013 were between the ages of 16 and 45. Out of all people in this age bracket, the majority were male who accounted for 59%. With reference to those aged 46 and above, the pattern is inverted. During these ages, most of people staying alone, majority are female, accounting for 69% (Benjamin 2013). This is somewhat because there are more females than males in the total population aged 46 or above as a result of the higher life expectancy of females in the UK (Benjamin 2013).

The presence of more one-person families means that there are more young people taking care of themselves. According to Barak (2014), increase in population in the UK, in most cases, is not consistent with the employment opportunities available in all sectors of the economy. As a result, more young people will be looking for jobs in the country. This in turn will offer the employers an opportunity to employ young and skilled employees, both male and females,