Economic reports and research

The unemployment digests provide the most up-to-date information on unemployment in the Highlands and Islands area. You can also view data for 2011, 2010 and 2009 through the tabs above. For data older than 2009, please contact Heather Smith at HIE, contact details on the right.

Stories & Fables: Reflections on culture development in Orkney is a report commissioned by HIE to look at the distinctive cultural life of Orkney today and back in time.  The report seeks to identify how lessons learned from Orkney's strong and varied culture can be transferred to other areas and communities. 

For more information, please see the full report below.

The Scottish Open golf championship was held at Castle Stuart over the four days between Thursday July 7th and Sunday July 10th 2011. It was the first time that this major event, organised by the European Tour, had been held in the Highlands and Islands. It attracted some of the world's major players and worldwide media coverage.

This report was commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to assess what the economic impact of this event was on the region. Please see the full report below for further information.

In September 2011 Highlands and Islands Enterprise commissioned GEN, Rock Solid Social Research (RSSR) and Research Resource to undertake a profiling exercise of the social enterprise sector in the Highlands and Islands.

The objectives for the study were to:

• review existing records, statistical data and research literature with a view to benchmarking social enterprise sector activity in Highlands and Islands with the rest of Scotland, the UK and elsewhere, identifying areas of distinctiveness or opportunity
• undertake a comprehensive profiling of the social enterprise sector in the Highlands and Islands. This includes production of a standard template to profile the social enterprise sector
• gain an understanding of the current and potential role of social enterprises in economic sectoral development across the Highlands and Islands
• identify existing constraints and potential opportunities for growth along with insight into the support required to achieve this growth.

The study will inform policy guidance as well as the planning, prioritisation and investment decisions of HIE over the coming years.

The next step in the process for HIE, in consultation with partners, is to agree an action plan to progress recommendations identified in the report. Download the report for more information.