CoworkingCafe has released its 2025 ranking of the best UK cities for job seekers, combining employment data, business strength, and housing affordability. Interestingly, mid-sized cities have emerged as frontrunners, outperforming some of the UK’s largest urban centres.
The report evaluated cities based on three weighted categories: Employment (35%), Business Environment (35%), and Income & Housing (30%). Here are the 10 cities that came out on top:
Winchester
Winchester tops the list with an impressive 87% employment rate and 12.8% year-over-year employment growth. It boasts the highest business density in the UK, with 177 businesses per 10,000 working-age residents. However, housing is less affordable—home prices exceed 12 times the median income, and rents consume over 36% of earnings.
Warwick
Warwick follows closely, also with an 87% employment rate and an 18% increase in employment compared to last year. The city has a strong business presence and offers more affordable housing than Winchester, with home prices at 8.4 times the median salary and rent taking up about 33% of income.
Stafford
Stafford leads in employment with 88.4%, alongside a significant 22% growth year-over-year. It offers great affordability—homes cost about 6.6 times the median income, and rents take up less than 23% of earnings. Its business density is relatively lower, but its job market remains strong.
Reading
Reading ranks high thanks to its thriving tech and finance sectors, hosting major companies like Microsoft and Oracle. The city offers 174 job ads per 10,000 working-age residents. However, housing affordability is a challenge, with homes priced at nearly 10 times the median income and rents consuming over 41% of earnings.
St Albans
St Albans is known for its high-income job market, with median earnings over £53,800 and an employment rate of nearly 85%. The city attracts large employers in finance and technology. Yet, affordability is a major drawback—rents take nearly 39% of income, and buying a home requires more than 13 years of median salary.
Chester
Chester maintains an 82.6% employment rate and 20% annual growth. It houses large employers like Bank of America and Airbus. Homes cost about seven times the median income, and rents account for just over 26%, making Chester both prosperous and relatively affordable.
Guildford
Guildford has a thriving business scene, especially in gaming, tech, and research. Its employment rate is 82%, with median annual earnings at £44,600. However, housing is less affordable—homes cost nearly 13 times the median salary, and rent takes about 34% of income.
Gloucester
Gloucester enjoys a strong 88% employment rate, one of the highest in the report. It has 152 job postings per 10,000 working-age residents. While it performs well in jobs and housing, the business environment is still growing and less dense than other top cities.
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Aberdeen
Aberdeen stands out for housing affordability, with homes requiring just four years of the median salary. The employment rate sits at 77.4%, with 94 job ads per 10,000 residents. Its economy leans heavily on the energy sector, with key players like BP and Shell.
Crawley
Crawley boasts a strong 83.8% employment rate and 16.5% year-over-year growth. It benefits from major employers like Virgin Atlantic and Thales Group. However, housing costs are high, with rent taking over 42% of income and home prices at 10 times the median salary.
What About London?
London ranked 11th overall. It remains a major business hub with high salaries and numerous job opportunities. However, affordability remains its greatest weakness—rents consume over half of the average salary, and homes cost nearly 13 times the median income.
CoworkingCafe’s latest report suggests that regional, mid-sized cities are rising as promising destinations for job seekers. These cities offer a more balanced lifestyle, with employment opportunities, business growth, and more reasonable housing costs than larger metropolitan centres.
For those considering their next career move, cities like Winchester, Warwick, and Stafford could offer the ideal mix of opportunity and quality of life.
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