Payroll Prices has unveiled its Employee Location Index 2024, a study ranking 80 UK towns and cities based on critical factors affecting workers and job-seekers.
The report provides valuable insights into where employees can find the best balance of job opportunities, living conditions and overall wellbeing.
On the index, Canterbury ranks 7th and Tunbridge Wells ranks 15th, which is good news for Kent.
Key findings from the report
London ranks last: Despite offering the highest median salary, London’s steep living costs and long commute times significantly impact its overall ranking, placing it last among UK cities
Chester tops the list: Chester emerges as the best city for workers and job-seekers, thanks to its balanced mix of competitive salaries, short commute times, and high happiness and life satisfaction scores
Affordable living in Dudley and Barnsley: These cities are highlighted for their low rent costs relative to median salaries, making them attractive for workers seeking to maximise their disposable income
Work-life balance in smaller cities: Cities like Tunbridge Wells, Stirling and Preston excel in providing a good balance of reasonable working hours and short commute times, contributing to higher happiness and life satisfaction
Vibrant job markets: Wigan and Dudley lead with the highest number of job vacancies per 10,000 people, indicating robust local economies
High overall contentment: Chelmsford and Cheltenham score high in happiness and life satisfaction, suggesting strong community wellbeing
Short commute times: Locations such as Milton Keynes and Darlington offer some of the shortest median commute times, enhancing work-life balance
Economic opportunity and quality of life: The North West of England, with cities like Chester and Warrington, consistently ranks high due to a combination of economic vitality and high quality of life
Top 20 locations for UK employees
1. Chester
2. Dudley
3. Warrington
4. Stafford
5. Preston
6. Coventry
7. Canterbury
8. Southend-on-Sea
9. Sunderland
10. Chelmsford
11. Cheltenham
12. Stirling
13. Blackburn with Darwen
14. Doncaster
15. Tunbridge Wells
16. Wigan
17. Barnsley
18. Stevenage
19. Darlington
20. Wolverhampton
The Employee Location Index 2024 evaluates towns and cities based on seven key factors: median salary, median commute time, median number of hours worked, happiness score, life satisfaction score, number of job vacancies per 10,000 inhabitants, and median rent as a percentage of salary.
