Many future graduates and young professionals are looking for the best cities to work in UK. It is only natural to search for top job opportunities and living conditions. That’s why we’ve decided to comprehensively analyse the major UK cities and complete a list of the most promising ones.
It is important to note that there is no one ultimate destination that will suit everyone. Multiple criteria go into the analysis, including employment opportunities, average salaries, employment rate growth, average rental property costs, and work-life satisfaction.
Introduction to Workplace Dynamics in the UK
Overall, the UK labour market is in a good place right now. According to the latest ONS report, as of January 2024, the employment rate growth continues. The percentage of employed citizens is currently at 75.8%.
The unemployment rate is at 4.2% – there were no significant changes in this factor in the UK cities. The economic inactivity rate is at 20.8% (0.1 percentage decrease).
However, there are other essential insights for UK workers, namely:
- The number of job opportunities (vacancies) has decreased by 49,000 in the last quarter;
- The decrease in job opportunities in UK cities continues for 18 months. Yet, it is still higher than pre-pandemic levels;
- The annual average salary growth is at 6.6%;
- The average salary in the UK is currently at £33,402.
Understanding the Factors that Make Cities Ideal for Work
When it comes to comparing UK cities in terms of comfortable working and living, there are several significant factors to consider, such as:
- Average salary;
- Available job opportunities;
- Industries and business density;
- Work-life balance;
- Work satisfaction;
- Living costs;
- Prospects of salary growth;
- Options for highly skilled workers;
- Rental costs;
- Life satisfaction;
- Infrastructure.
Also, different factors have more or less priority based on individual interests. Some prefer more green spaces and remote working opportunities. Other job seekers look for the best cities with the highest average salary.
Economic Opportunities
Different cities in the UK offer various employment opportunities in terms of position levels, industries, benefits, and average income. When choosing a destination to move to, looking for specific options regarding your industry or profession of interest is crucial.
Average property prices, living costs, and disposable income also play an integral part in economic opportunities. For example, the average salary in London is higher than in other cities. However, the rental and living costs are significantly higher as well. So, professionals might have less disposable income even with a higher salary.
Quality of Life
To find the city to live in, one must also evaluate the quality of life. It includes work-life balance, happiness scores, affordable housing, and short commuting. Many things contribute to how happy citizens of different cities in the UK feel.
Looking only at average salary rates, one might think London is the best city to work in. Yet, the studies show the opposite. Yes, London has excellent infrastructure and a lot of job opportunities, and it is one of the highest-paying cities in the UK.
However, according to the quality of life, the best cities in the UK are:
- Edinburgh;
- Plymouth;
- Glasgow;
- Cardiff/Newcastle/Nottingham/Sheffield/Portsmouth;
- Bristol.
Citizens of those destinations are generally satisfied with the quality of life. And London only comes in 10th place.
Job Market Trends
Labour market trends contribute to the analysis as well. For example, Manchester is one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK. It offers increasing job listings and housing affordability (especially compared to the capital of England).
It is a good location for job hunters as it has a growing business density.
On the other side of the country, Northern Ireland offers plenty of aerospace, engineering, manufacturing, construction, and health technology opportunities.
Major Cities for Employment Opportunities and Average Salary
Cambridge – Work Satisfaction
According to the newest statistics, Cambridge is the best city for work satisfaction. It scored 3.91 points out of 5. The country average is 3.79.
The average salary here is about £37,000, which is also higher than the national average. The CIPHR data shows that Cambridge is in third place in the UK cities for the highest earning among full-time employees (17% above average). It also scored 41 out of 50 for employment opportunities.
At the same time, it is among the UK cities with the highest average property price. Although the salaries and quality of life are high, career opportunities are unavailable in all industries.Norwich – Job Opportunities
Regarding job listings, business density, employment rate growth, and unemployment rate decrease, Norwich is the top city for job opportunities (46 out of 50).
On average, there are 76.3 businesses per 10,000 citizens. The employment rate growth is 6.7%, and the unemployment rate is 2.5%.
Although it is not a big city, it has a lot of benefits. Sunday Times has called it the best place to live in the UK in 2018, 2019, and 2020. It was also named one of the best small towns by The Times.
Oxford – Employment Rate Growth
Oxford scored highest for the employment rate growth in the UK, with 16.4% from 2021 to 2022. It is also one of the happiest cities in the UK, both for work and life satisfaction. The average salary here is 11% higher than the national rate.
Regarding employment opportunities, it is in third place (42 out of 50). Yet, Oxford is among the top 5 cities with the highest rent-to-salary ratio (about 43% of the salary goes to rent costs). And the property costs are one of the highest here as well. But it is one of the happiest cities in the UK.
London – The Economic Hub
If you are looking for the highest average salary, you must head to London. The average salary here is 19% above the national average. As a capital, it has the highest number of versatile opportunities in all sectors.
It is in fourth place for business density and one of the top places for skilled employees. At the same time, it is in second place for the highest rent-to-salary ratio. Approximately 45% of the salary goes to rent. London has the highest property prices in the whole UK.
London didn’t make it to the top ten happiest cities in the country. The work satisfaction rate is 3.85 out of 5 here. It is an excellent location for a job switch, career growth, and digital infrastructure. Yet, there are better options regarding work-life balance, green spaces, and average rent.
Manchester – A Thriving Business Landscape
Manchester is the next highest-paying city in the UK. The city’s workforce has been growing as the business is booming here. It is one of the country’s most dynamically growing locations, with many new businesses and job listings.
The workers’ satisfaction is 3.8, slightly above the nation’s average. Compared to London, there is decent housing affordability in Manchester as well. Besides, plenty of parks, restaurants, and leisure places are here. The overall quality of life here is fantastic, so many young professionals move to the city. Manchester is the fastest-growing digital city in Europe, not only in the UK.
Edinburgh – Balancing Heritage and Innovation
The Scottish capital attracts people with historic sights, green spaces, and growing work opportunities. It is among the top ten cities regarding employment opportunities (it scored 38 out of 50).
Yet, when it comes to the rent-to-salary ratio, it is even higher than in London. About 46% of the average salary is spent on rent by residents of Edinburgh. However, there are many tech hubs and high-paying job listings here. Skilled employees can find excellent opportunities in the Royal Bank of Scotland, University of Edinburg, Baillie Gifford, or Skyscanner.
Birmingham – Economic Hub of the West Midlands
Birmingham is an exciting city to explore. It has a population of over one million residents. It is also a cultural, economic, and social centre of the West Midlands. There are many parks, so finding a green space is relatively easy.
It is one of the best UK cities for restaurants and the food scene. Previously, it was known as an engineering hub. However, the city has grown and developed to represent a decent number of various industries. Professionals can find work in the UK in business, finance, education, defence, health, and transportation industries.
According to national statistics, Birmingham experiences salary growth numbers like other big cities.
Work-Life Balance in UK Cities
Many factors come into play when it comes to work-life balance. Let’s focus on the biggest ones – commuting, recreation and leisure, and overall quality of life.
Assessing Commute Times and Transportation
The study by the University of Bristol shows that even ten extra commuting minutes significantly reduce work satisfaction. Although it might not seem like a big problem at first, long and uncomfortable commuting contributes massively to the happiness with work.
The UK average commute time is 23 days a year. Almost half of the UK’s population would love to work from home to avoid fuel costs and inconveniences.
The best places in terms of easy and convenient commuting in the UK are:
- Leicester;
- Bristol;
- Edinburgh;
- London;
- Birmingham;
- Manchester.
They have the most comfortable and easy UK average commuting experience. However, smaller towns require less commuting time in general.
Recreation and Leisure Opportunities
Those into outdoor and active recreation opportunities must look into the Active City Index. The ranking analyses various available activities, from parks and hiking trails to sports complexes and greenery.
The top five destinations according to this index are:
- Southhampton;
- Norwich;
- Gloucester;
- Plymouth;
- Ipswich.
Satisfaction and Happiness
According to CIPHR data, the best places for life satisfaction and happiness are:
- Canterbury;
- Lancaster;
- Winchester;
- St Albans;
- Chelmsford;
- Newcastle;
- Oxford;
- Sheffield;
- York;
- Wakefield.
Technology Hubs – Places Leading in Innovation
The best UK cities for technology and innovation are:
- Manchester;
- Birmingham;
- Edinburgh;
- London;
- Cambridge;
- Belfast;
- Bristol;
- Leeds;
- Newcastle.
Financial Districts – Cities with Robust Financial Sectors
What city did rank highest in the finance industry? Unsurprisingly, it is London. Although it has the highest density of various financial institutions and businesses, there are other destinations for job seekers in this sector. Other, more affordable cities are:
- Leeds;
- Edinburgh;
- Manchester;
- Cambridge (higher average score for entry-level positions than London);
- Oxford;
- Norwich;
- Leicester;
- Bristol;
- Brighton;
- Coventry.
Creative Industries – Cities Nurturing Arts and Culture
Bristol is the city to move to if you are looking for an Art capital. Compared to other destinations, it offers low-cost living and housing. It is a vibrant place known for Banksy and a multitude of Art galleries. But if you are into creative industries, you can choose another city as well, for example:
- Glasgow;
- Edinburgh;
- Liverpool;
- Nottingham;
- Newcastle upon Tyne;
- Birmingham.
Cost of Living Considerations
Affordable Locations for Different Budgets
Those concerned with living costs first need to look for UK average housing costs and places with lower prices. In terms of affordable housing, the best cities to work in the UK are:
- Doncaster;
- Hull;
- Stoke-on-Trent;
- Bradford;
- Sunderland;
- Preston;
- Belfast;
- Aberdeen;
- Dundee.
Key Takeaways
The choice of the best cities to work in the UK depends on prioritised factors: the cost of living, commute time, or available industries. This guide will help professionals find a suitable location for their needs.
