Study Figure 1, which shows a population pyramid for a specific local authority area in the UK.
Which statement best explains the demographic characteristics and the primary drivers of population change in this area?
The area experiences high natural increase due to a youthful demographic structure, supplemented by the inward migration of young families seeking affordable housing.
The population structure is heavily shaped by the net outward migration of young adults (aged 18–3018\text{--}3018–30) for education and employment, alongside the net inward migration of older adults and retirees (aged 55–7555\text{--}7555–75).
High infant mortality rates and low overall life expectancy restrict the growth of the older cohorts, creating a structure dominated by a high proportion of working-age industrial workers.
The area has undergone rapid urban gentrification, leading to an influx of young, affluent professionals in their 20s20\text{s}20s and 30s30\text{s}30s, causing a significant bulge in the early-career cohorts.