Top 10 UK Cities for Jobs and Career Growth in 2025

A new report by CoworkingCafe has ranked the best UK cities for job seekers in 2025, using data on employment rates, business activity, and housing affordability.

Interestingly, mid-sized cities are outperforming larger ones by offering more balance between career opportunities and cost of living.

The study focused on three key areas: employment opportunities (35%), business environment (35%), and income vs housing costs (30%). 

Below are the top 10 cities that made the list.

1. Winchester

Winchester takes the top spot with an 87% employment rate and almost 13% job growth from last year. It has the highest number of businesses per resident in the UK. However, housing is expensive—home prices are more than 12 times the average salary, and rent eats up over 36% of monthly income.

2. Warwick

With an 87% employment rate, Warwick saw an 18% rise in jobs since last year. It has a strong business presence and more affordable housing than Winchester. Homes cost 8.4 times the average salary, and rent takes about 33% of income.

3. Stafford

Stafford leads in employment with an 88.4% rate and 22% job growth. It’s one of the most affordable cities on the list. Houses cost 6.6 times the average income, and rent is less than 23% of earnings. Business density is lower, but job opportunities are growing.

4. Reading

Reading is a tech and finance hotspot, home to companies like Microsoft and Oracle. The city posts 174 job ads per 10,000 working-age people. However, it’s costly to live in homes that cost nearly 10 times the average income, and rent takes 41% of earnings.

5. St Albans

With high median earnings (over £53,800) and an 85% employment rate, St Albans attracts big employers in tech and finance. But it’s one of the least affordable cities—homes cost over 13 times the average income, and rent takes nearly 39% of earnings.

6. Chester

Chester maintains a strong 82.6% employment rate and has seen 20% growth in job openings. Major employers include Bank of America and Airbus. Homes are fairly priced at seven times the average income, and rent takes only 26%.

7. Guildford

Guildford is known for its tech, gaming, and research sectors. With an 82% employment rate and mid income of £44,600, it’s a business-friendly city. However, housing is pricey—homes cost almost 13 times the median salary, and rent is about 34% of income.

8. Gloucester

Gloucester boasts an 88% employment rate, one of the highest in the country, and has 152 job ads per 10,000 residents. It offers good job access and decent housing prices, though the local business scene is still growing.

9. Aberdeen

Aberdeen is one of the most affordable cities for housing homes cost just four times the average income. The employment rate is 77.4%, and the city has 94 job ads per 10,000 people. Its economy is largely based on the energy sector, with companies like BP and Shell.

10. Crawley

Crawley has a solid 83.8% employment rate and 16.5% job growth. It’s home to big names like Virgin Atlantic and Thales Group, but housing costs are high rent takes over 42% of earnings, and homes cost 10 times the average salary.