Editing East Ayrshire (section)

==Economy==
{{Further|Economy of Scotland}}

[[File:Putting stripes on it. - geograph.org.uk - 434345.jpg|thumb|right|Agriculture contributes a large part to East Ayrshire's economy]]

===Economic history===
Historically the economy of East Ayrshire was dependent on industries such as [[coal mining]], [[textiles]] and general manufacturing which largely fell into decline in Scotland during the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |title=East Ayrshire's Economic Development Strategy 2014/2025 |url=https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/Resources/PDF/E/EconomicDevelopmentStrategy2014-2025.pdf |website=East Ayrshire Council}}</ref> Certain parts of East Ayrshire, particularly in the south of the region, such as [[Auchinleck]], [[Bellsbank]] and [[Dalmellington]] have struggled to recover from the economic hardship caused by the decline and gradual closure of traditional industries, and are supported through various initiatives to try and rejuvenate their economies.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Kilmarnock has seen a gradual decline in manufacturing performance in recent years. In 2009, [[Diageo]], owner of [[Scotch whisky|whisky]] maker [[Johnnie Walker]] (which had been founded in Kilmarnock) announced the proposed closure of the bottling plant facility in Hill Street, and in 2012, Diageo closed the facility with the loss of 700 jobs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-17489529|title = Johnnie Walker leaves Kilmarnock|work = BBC News}}</ref> In December 2015, Kilmarnock was awarded the title of Scotland's Most Improved Town due to efforts towards town regeneration and restoration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35056025|title=Kilmarnock scoops regeneration award|first=Reevel|last=Alderson|work=BBC News|date=10 December 2015|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>

===Modern economy===

In rural communities of the authority, [[agriculture]] continues to be the leading sources of employment and economic productivity, particularly in the southern communities of the area.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The public sector is the largest employer within the area, with the council and [[NHS Ayrshire and Arran]] being significant employers.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Kilmarnock is home to the [[HALO Urban Regeneration]] company which was founded by [[Marie Macklin]] CBE, with a focus on providing opportunities for new businesses within the area,<ref name="halo-projects.com">{{Cite web|url=https://halo-projects.com/halo-scotland/|title = HALO Kilmarnock, Scotland &#124; Urban Renewal Project &#124; HALO Scotland Urban Regeneration}}</ref> and with an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) revenue of £205 million to the Scottish economy, it supports 1,500 jobs within the area.<ref name="halo-projects.com"/>

===Tourism===
[[File:Dumfries sca3.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Dumfries House]] located in Cumnock has developed itself as a major local tourist attraction]]

Food and drink as well as local tourism provides a large sum to the economy of East Ayrshire, with visitor attractions such as [[Dean Castle]], [[Palace Theatre (Kilmarnock)|Palace Theatre]] and [[Dumfries House]] generating large means of income for the area.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Places of interest within East Ayrshire include:

*[[Aiket Castle]]
*[[Auchinleck House]]
*[[Dalmore House and Estate]] 
*[[Dean Castle]]
*[[Dumfries House]]
*[[Kilmaurs Place]]
*[[Loch Doon]]
*[[Loudoun Castle]]
*[[Robertland House]]
*[[Rowallan Castle]]
*[[Scottish Industrial Railway Centre]]
*[[Sorn Castle]]
*[[Stair House]]

===Gross Domestic Product===
[[File:Ayrshire Loch Doon Aerial.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Loch Doon]] in East Ayrshire, near to [[Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Carrick]]]]

In 2022, the [[Gross Domestic Product]] (GDP) of East Ayrshire (which includes the mainland of [[North Ayrshire]] for purposes of calculating GDP) was estimated at £5.075 billion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland GDP by region 2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1243834/scotland-gdp-by-local-area/ |website=Statista |access-date=17 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Amongst Scotland's 32 local council areas, combined, East Ayrshire and mainland North Ayrshire are ranked as the 12th largest amongst Scottish areas by GDP rank.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland GDP by region 2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1243834/scotland-gdp-by-local-area/ |website=Statista |access-date=17 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

The average gross weekly page for full time employees in East Ayrshire in 2023 was £708.80, higher than the Scotland average of £702.40.<ref name="nomisweb.co.uk">{{cite web |title=Labour Market Profile - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157412/report.aspx?town=East%20Ayrshire |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref>

===Employment trends===

Between January–December 2023, an estimated 56,300 people were classed as economically active within East Ayrshire, with 55,600 classed as in employment, 49,400 employees of businesses or organisations, with a further 5,700 classed as self employed. During this period, East Ayrshire had an unemployment rate of 3.2%, about 1,900 people of the population.<ref name="nomisweb.co.uk"/>

The largest category of economic activity in East Ayrshire in 2023 was professional occupations, with an estimated 10,600 people (19.2%) of the East Ayrshire population employed in this sector. Other large sectors for employment across East Ayrshire include skilled trades tccupations (14.0%), caring, leisure And other service occupations (13.3%), elementary occupations (9.0%), Managers, Directors And Senior Officials (7.7%) and process plant and machine operatives (7.4%).<ref name="nomisweb.co.uk"/>