Editing Whitstable (section)

==Economy==
According to the 2001 UK census, the economic activity of residents in the town aged 16–74 was 35.6% in full-time employment, 13.4% in part-time employment, 10.4% self-employed, 2.5% unemployed, 2.4% students with jobs, 3.4% students without jobs, 18.8% retired, 6.7% looking after home or family, 4.5% permanently sick or disabled and 2.3% economically inactive for other reasons. The percentage of retired people was significantly higher than the national figure of 13.5%. The unemployment rate of 2.5% was lower than the national rate of 3.3%. 12% of the town's residents aged 16–74 had a [[higher education]] qualification or the equivalent, compared to 20% nationwide.<ref name="Statistics.gov.uk"/>

The main activities at the harbour are fishing, fish processing, cargo handling and boat storage.<ref>{{cite web  | title =Whitstable Harbour Annual Report 2006-07  | publisher = Canterbury City Council | url =http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/assets/harbour/harbourannualreport2006.pdf| access-date =23 April 2007 }}</ref> The harbour area is the site for other industries such as tarmac manufacturing and a maintenance port for an offshore [[windfarm]].<ref name="Whitstable Harbour">{{cite web  | title = Whitstable Harbour  | publisher = Canterbury City Council  | url = http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=1419  | access-date = 23 April 2007  | archive-date = 27 September 2007  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927040609/http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=1419  | url-status = live  }}</ref> Business parks located on the outskirts of the town provide premises for large retailers, offices and light industries.<ref name="Whitstable Enterprise Centre">{{cite web  | title = Whitstable Enterprise Centre  | publisher = Canterbury City Council  | url = http://www.business.canterbury.gov.uk/buildpage.php?id=11  | access-date = 23 April 2007  | archive-date = 5 February 2007  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070205070244/http://www.business.canterbury.gov.uk/buildpage.php?id=11  | url-status = live  }}</ref>

The town's distinctive character and ambience has led to a strong tourist industry, which is promoted each year by the Oyster Festival. In early 2007, Canterbury City Council were planning to boost tourism by building retail developments in addition to the existing shopping centre.<ref name="Whitstable planning strategy">{{cite web  | title = Whitstable planning strategy  | publisher = Canterbury City Council | url = http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/buildpage.php?id=534  | access-date =21 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927040653/http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/buildpage.php?id=534 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref>

The 2001 UK census reported the industry of employment of residents of Whitstable as 18% retail, 13% health and social work, 12% manufacturing, 11% education, 10% real estate, 9% construction, 7% transport and communications, 5% public administration, 5% hotels and restaurants, 4% finance, 1% agriculture and 5% other community, social or personal services. Compared to national figures, the town had a relatively high number of workers in the construction, education, and health/social care industries and a relatively low number in manufacturing, finance, and real estate.<ref name="Statistics.gov.uk"/> Many residents commute to work outside the town; at the 2001 census, there were 13,260 employed residents, but only 9,725 jobs within the town.<ref name="Statistics.gov.uk"/>

The high level of employees in teaching is possibly due to the town's proximity to Canterbury, which has three higher education establishments.<ref name="Boosting our local economy">{{cite web  | title = Boosting our local economy  | publisher = Canterbury City Council | url = http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=2519  | access-date =21 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927040449/http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=2519 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> The elderly population of the town has led to many health and social care jobs at local care homes and at the Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital.<ref name="Hospital">{{cite web  | title = Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital  | publisher = NHS | url = http://www.kentandmedway.nhs.uk/local_nhs_services/hospitals/whitstable_and_tankerton.asp  | access-date =21 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070415150739/http://www.kentandmedway.nhs.uk/local_nhs_services/hospitals/whitstable_and_tankerton.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 15 April 2007}}</ref> At the 2001 census, 1.3% of the town's population resided in a medical or care establishment, compared to the national average of only 0.8%.<ref name="Statistics.gov.uk"/>