Warrington ranked second best place in UK for job opportunities

NEW research has revealed Warrington as the second best place in the UK for the best job opportunities.

The study, conducted by HR software provider Ciphr, compared employment data for 100 of the UK’s most populated towns and cities to determine which locations offer the best potential for job opportunities.

Warrington came in second place, behind Winchester and ahead of St Albans in third. Chelmsford, Sevenoaks, Preston, Cheltenham, Guildford, Aberdeen, and Reading also made the top 10.
Commenting on the findings Warrington Chamber of Commerce CEO Stephen Fitzsimons said: “Warrington appearing so highly in this study is of no surprise to anyone in the local business community. The town is home to a large number of international brands, each offering exciting career opportunities, both for residents and the daily influx of regional talent. From nuclear physicists to caring for the vulnerable – Warrington has a variety of vocations for all levels of aspiration and remuneration.”

Towns and cities were rated (out of 100) across multiple factors, such as average full-time earnings, annual pay growth, the latest employment and unemployment figures, employment rate growth, the number of job listings on Indeed, LinkedIn and Glassdoor (combined) per 10,000 local workers, and business density – or the number of businesses in the area.
Housing costs, as well as life satisfaction and happiness scores, were also considered to reflect the town or city’s affordability and its residents’ general level of wellbeing.
Warrington scored well across multiple criteria – it has a below-average unemployment rate of 2.8% and an above-average employment rate of 80.2% (the UK averages, for the year to December 2023, were 3.7% and 75.7% respectively).

For those job hunting right now, analysis of data from Indeed, LinkedIn and Glassdoor, earlier this month, found that there were 472 job postings in Warrington per 10,000 working-age residents (the UK average is 243 per 10,000).
In 2023, the number of employers in Warrington, with 10 staff or more, increased by 4.8% (vs 2.2% nationally), taking its tally to 75.1 businesses per 10,000 working-age adults (that’s above the UK average of 70.2 per 10,000).
The town is also relatively competitive in terms of housing affordability. Rental properties in Warrington averaged £695 a month in 2023 – just under a quarter (24%) of full-time pay. While, according to Rightmove, properties sold for an average of £262,694 in the last year – around 7.6 times the average full-time worker’s earnings of £34,400.

Based on Ciphr’s study, the top 10 UK towns and cities for job opportunities are:
1. Winchester
2. Warrington
3. St Albans
4. Chelmsford
5. Sevenoaks
6. Preston
7. Cheltenham
8. Guildford
9. Aberdeen
10. Reading
The full results are available to view and search at https://www.ciphr.com/infographics/best-uk-cities-for-job-opportunities-2024.

Ciphr is the go-to HR software and solutions partner for medium and large organisations in the UK. Its integrated HR, payroll, learning and recruitment software, services and content provide invaluable insights to HR teams to inform their people strategy and grow and develop their organisations. Based in Reading, Ciphr is on a mission to amplify the voice and value of HR through intelligent people data solutions that help HR be heard – in the boardroom and across the business.

For more information visit www.ciphr.com