Where the Jobs Are: Understanding UK Regional Employment Patterns

The UK's employment landscape varies dramatically by region, with different areas specializing in different industries. Understanding these regional patterns is crucial for young people planning their careers and families considering relocation. This guide explores where jobs are concentrated across the UK and what industries dominate in each region.

Regional Employment Overview

The UK workforce comprises approximately 36 million jobs across 12 regions. Employment is not evenly distributed—London and the South East together account for nearly 30% of all UK jobs, while regions like the North East and Northern Ireland each represent around 3% of total employment.

London: The Financial and Professional Services Hub

Total Jobs: Approximately 6 million

London dominates in professional, scientific, and technical services, employing over 1 million people in this sector alone. Financial and insurance services employ around 500,000 people, making London the UK's undisputed financial capital. Information and communication (tech and media) employs approximately 400,000 people. However, London also has significant employment in wholesale and retail (600,000+), accommodation and food services (500,000+), and health and social work (700,000+).

Career opportunities: Highest concentration of high-paying professional jobs, but also high cost of living. Excellent for finance, tech, law, media, and creative industries.

South East: Diverse Economy with Strong Professional Services

Total Jobs: Approximately 4.5 million

The South East has a balanced economy with strong representation across sectors. Professional services employ around 600,000 people, while retail employs approximately 500,000. Health and social work is a major employer with 600,000+ jobs. Manufacturing remains significant with around 300,000 jobs, particularly in aerospace and pharmaceuticals. The region benefits from proximity to London while offering lower living costs.

North West: Manufacturing and Distribution Powerhouse

Total Jobs: Approximately 3.5 million

The North West, including Manchester and Liverpool, has strong manufacturing (300,000+ jobs) and wholesale/retail sectors (400,000+ jobs). Health and social work employs around 500,000 people. The region has a growing tech sector, particularly in Manchester's "MediaCityUK" and digital corridor. Transportation and storage is significant due to major ports and distribution centers.

Scotland: Public Sector and Energy

Total Jobs: Approximately 2.8 million

Scotland has a strong public sector presence, with health and social work employing around 400,000 people and education employing 200,000+. The energy sector, particularly oil and gas in Aberdeen and renewable energy, is significant. Financial services in Edinburgh employ around 100,000 people. Tourism and hospitality are major employers, particularly in Edinburgh and the Highlands.

West Midlands: Advanced Manufacturing Hub

Total Jobs: Approximately 2.8 million

The West Midlands, centered on Birmingham, has the UK's strongest manufacturing base outside the South East, with around 300,000 manufacturing jobs. The automotive industry is particularly strong, with Jaguar Land Rover and numerous suppliers. Professional services employ around 300,000 people, while retail employs 300,000+. The region is investing heavily in HS2 and urban regeneration.

Yorkshire and The Humber: Balanced Regional Economy

Total Jobs: Approximately 2.6 million

Yorkshire has a diverse economy with strong health and social work (350,000+ jobs), retail (300,000+ jobs), and manufacturing (250,000+ jobs). Leeds is a major financial and professional services center outside London. The region has significant food and drink manufacturing, particularly in York and Hull.

East of England: Life Sciences and Technology

Total Jobs: Approximately 3 million

The East of England, including Cambridge, has the UK's strongest life sciences and biotech cluster. Professional and scientific services employ around 350,000 people. The region has significant pharmaceutical manufacturing and research. Agriculture and food processing remain important. Cambridge's tech sector continues to grow rapidly.

South West: Tourism, Aerospace, and Agriculture

Total Jobs: Approximately 2.7 million

The South West has strong tourism and hospitality sectors, employing around 300,000 people. Bristol is a major aerospace hub with significant manufacturing employment. Health and social work employs 350,000+ people. The region has a higher proportion of self-employment and small businesses than the UK average.

Wales: Manufacturing and Public Services

Total Jobs: Approximately 1.4 million

Wales has significant manufacturing employment (around 150,000 jobs), particularly in automotive and electronics. Health and social work employs approximately 200,000 people. The public sector is proportionally larger than in England. Cardiff is developing as a media and creative industries hub.

East Midlands: Logistics and Manufacturing

Total Jobs: Approximately 2.2 million

The East Midlands is the UK's logistics hub, with major distribution centers for online retail. Transportation and storage employs around 150,000 people. Manufacturing remains strong with 250,000+ jobs. The region has lower living costs than the South while maintaining good transport links.

North East: Public Sector and Advanced Manufacturing

Total Jobs: Approximately 1.2 million

The North East has a strong public sector, with health and social work employing around 180,000 people. Manufacturing employs approximately 120,000 people, including automotive (Nissan) and offshore wind energy. The region has lower living costs and is investing in renewable energy and digital infrastructure.

Northern Ireland: Public Services and Agri-Food

Total Jobs: Approximately 900,000

Northern Ireland has a proportionally large public sector, with health and education employing around 250,000 people combined. Manufacturing employs approximately 100,000 people, with strength in aerospace, food processing, and textiles. Belfast is developing as a tech and creative industries hub.

Key Insights for Young People

• London offers the most opportunities in finance, tech, and professional services, but competition is fierce and living costs are high.
• Regional cities are growing—Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, and Edinburgh offer strong career prospects with lower living costs.
• Manufacturing remains important in the Midlands, North West, and North East, offering well-paid skilled work.
• Health and social care is a major employer everywhere, with opportunities in all regions.
• Retail and hospitality provide entry-level opportunities across all regions.
• Specialist clusters exist—Cambridge for life sciences, Aberdeen for energy, Bristol for aerospace.
• Remote work is changing patterns—tech and professional services increasingly offer location flexibility.

Planning Your Career Path

Understanding regional employment patterns helps young people make informed decisions about education, training, and career choices. Consider:

• What industries are strong in your region?
• Are you willing to relocate for career opportunities?
• What skills are in demand locally?
• How do living costs compare to salaries in different regions?
• What training and education opportunities are available locally?