Despite experts predicting a downturn in the future, currently, the UK job market is strong. Unemployment is at 3.7%, and the number of payrolled employees increased by over 100,000 in November. However, not all cities in the UK are holding up to rising inflation and energy prices. In this article, we will look at the top cities in the UK for work and their in-demand jobs.
As a basis for our article, we used SignalHire’s internal data, namely searches of recruiters for a certain location and the most sought-after professions in those regions. All searches that were analyzed relate to August 2022, so keep in mind that data may vary depending on the seasonality of each industry. Therefore, this does not mean that if only these positions are given, it will be difficult with others in these cities.
What Are the Best UK Cities for Work?
1. London
- Job Growth: 2.7%
- Average Annual Salary: £41,866
- Top 3 In-Demand Jobs in the City: Editor, Business Analyst, Principal Dentist
London is one of the biggest financial centers in the entire world, with a population of just under 9 million and a GDP bigger than many countries.
London is a massive trading hub in Europe, and its banking and financial system is only rivaled by New York, making it one of the best places to get a job. Millions of people from around the world have moved to London and landed their dream job, so why not add your name to the list?
One of the hottest jobs in London is an editor, which is unsurprising as London has one of the largest media industries in the world. London is home to the legendary BBC and the Guardian.
Another in-demand job is a business analyst. This is also unsurprising as some of the biggest companies on the planet have offices in London, including all of the biggest banks such as Barclays, HSBC, and Goldman Sachs.
If you want to move to one of the most impressive cities in the world, earn a high salary, and enjoy virtually unlimited career progression, then London is an amazing choice!
2. Milton Keynes
- Job Growth: 4.8%
- Average Annual Salary: £35,200
- Top 3 In-Demand Jobs in the City: Buyer, Procurement Specialist, Category Management
Milton Keynes is a little over 1-hour drive from London. The city has a population of just under 300,000 and is an affordable and safe city. Milton Keynes has lots of great parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, including an indoor ski center!
Milton Keynes has been experiencing strong job growth, and more and more families are moving into the area. The biggest employers in the city are Amazon, Dominos, and Santander, and the top jobs include buyer, procurement specialist, and category management. With so many big corporate companies setting up shops in Milton Keynes, it is no surprise that the city shows impressive job growth.
3. Cambridge
- Job Growth: 3.2%
- Average Annual Salary: £35,200
- Top 3 In-Demand Jobs in the City: Engineer, Procurement Specialist, Technical Lead
Cambridge is famous for its elite university, but this town of 150,000 has much more than that to offer. The picturesque English city is just 1 hour from London and is known for its lovely parks, stunning gardens, and cute little city center.
Manufacturing is the largest industry around Cambridge, employing around 20% of the local population. Companies that have their manufacturing base in the area constantly need talented engineers to help them improve their production systems ranging from robotics to computer networks to machine tools. Procurement specialists are also in high demand, and manufacturers who can find high-quality and affordable inputs have a big advantage over their competition.
Cambridge is much more affordable than London and offers a relaxing lifestyle, and if you need some extra activity, you can reach London in 1 hour.
4. Oxford
- Job Growth: 3.2%
- Average Annual Salary: £40,000
- Top 3 In-Demand Jobs in the City: Engineer, Procurement Specialist, Operations Manager
Oxford is like Cambridge’s big brother which is also home to one of the most elite universities on the planet. Oxford has just under 200,000 people and has a really welcoming and fun culture. The quintessential English city is loaded with museums, cafes, bars, gardens, and parks. Oxford is also only 1 hour away from London.
Some of the biggest employers in the town are the university, the hospital, BMW, Unipart, Newsquest, and Oxford Bus Company. With Unipart and BMW employing so many people from Oxford, these companies always need skilled engineers, operations managers, and procurement specialists.
Oxford does have a high cost of living, but the jobs in the area offer a high salary, and the town is very pretty. You won’t regret moving to Oxford!
5. Aberdeen
- Job Growth: N/A
- Average Annual Salary: £35,000
- Top In-Demand Job in the City: Civil Engineer
Aberdeen is a city of beautiful architecture, literally called the Granite City. People from all over the world come here to study and work. There is a good transport interchange, so if you want to find a job in a quiet city, but at any moment go to London or Paris by plane in an hour – Aberdeen is especially for you!
As for the in-demand professions, as you can see, engineers are needed. Skill shortages in the industry are currently a major issue, so there is a high demand for new hires across the board.
6. Manchester
- Job Growth: 2.2%
- Average Annual Salary: £37,500
- Top 3 In-Demand Jobs in the City: CEO, Administrative Assistant, Administrator
Manchester is more than big football clubs! This city is home to Joy Division, Oasis, and the Smiths. Manchester has a population of 500,000 and has a rich industrial heritage, and was once a global textile powerhouse.
Manchester is now a buzzing city with amazing nightlife, world-class concerts, sporting events, and everything you need to live an incredible life. The city is experiencing strong growth and is still affordable compared to southern English cities.
Some of the biggest employers in Manchester include Unilever, Kellogg’s, Siemens, Amazon, and Klarna. With so many big companies, there is a massive need for talented CEOs and administrators. If you are looking for a city that can rival London in terms of culture but for a fraction of the price, then check out Manchester!
7. Glasgow
- Job Growth: 4.4%
- Average Annual Salary: £31,000
- Top 3 In-Demand Jobs in the City: Engineer, I&C Technician, Structural Engineer
Glasgow is the biggest city in Scotland, with over 1.5 million people. The city is a great bargain, especially when you compare it to Edinburgh and London. Glasgow has a vibrant arts scene, and there is always lots to do; it has some seriously underrated architecture which is why it made it on our UK best cities to live list!
The Glasgow construction industry has been trying to get kick-started since Covid. There is a huge demand for new homes in the city, and the government wants to modernize it. This is why engineers and structural engineers are in high demand!
Glasgow is definitely an underrated city, but you better move quickly because, in 10 years time, this hidden gem will be just as pricey as some southern English cities!
8. Newbury
- Job Growth: 3%
- Average Annual Salary: £33,000
- Top 3 In-Demand Jobs in the City: Delivery Manager, Technical Business Analyst, Business Analyst
Newbury is a lovely market town in the southeast of England with a population of 44,000. The town is close to Reading and a 1.5-hours drive from London. If you love the outdoors and particularly walking and cycling, then Newbury is like heaven. It has some of the most picturesque trails you will see anywhere in the UK.
Newbury is home to Vodafone, which employs more than 6000 people. Vodafone is one of the biggest companies in the world and always needs talented technical and business analysts.
9. Stevenage
- Job Growth: N/A
- Average Annual Salary: £45,000
- Top 3 In-Demand Jobs in the City: Engineer, Risk Manager, Weights Engineer
Stevenage is in gorgeous Hertfordshire and is just 27 miles from London. You can reach London in under 30 minutes on the train. Stevenage offers relaxed and affordable living while still being very close to London.
The town is going through a massive redevelopment, and building companies and the local council need lots of engineers. If you live in Stevenage, you are most likely going to work in London. This town is going to boom over the next few years as it gets redeveloped and more people leave London due to affordability and crowding issues.
10. Gloucester
- Job Growth: N/A
- Average Annual Salary: £29,000
- Top 2 In-Demand Jobs in the City: Orthodontist, Dentist
Gloucester is a lovely town that which inspires with its historical atmosphere. Lovers of English culture will definitely find something to do here. Gloucester has direct train connections to Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, and London.
According to the study, professions related to dentistry are the most in demand at the moment. There is literally a shortage of dentists right now. Nevertheless, many other industries are developing in the city, so there will always be work. Therefore, if you want to move to a city full of atmosphere and at the same time find a profession to your heart’s content – think about Gloucester!
Methodology
SignalHire is a recruiting solution that gets thousands of visitors each week. Recruiters, marketers, and salespeople use the tool to gather contact information, which serves as the basis for our research. To find the best cities to work and live in the UK, we collected the search requests from SignalHire users as of August 2022. The cities with the most search queries were ranked higher than those with fewer search queries. We also tallied the job-related search queries for each of the UK cities on our list. This allowed us to determine the most in-demand jobs.
Our article also presents data from other resources. Namely, job growth and average annual salary were taken from local government websites.
Conclusion
So, there you have it; unsurprisingly, London is at the top of our list of the best cities in the UK. The city is an absolute financial powerhouse and one of the best places to build and develop a career. You can pursue virtually any career successfully in London, but some of the top industries include financial services, retail, technology, and professional services. If you are thinking of broadening your horizons, and want to learn about the situation in other countries, you can also check out our research on the 10 best cities for jobs in the US!
