Cambridge offers the strongest job prospects in the UK, with more than 11,000 vacancies per 100,000 residents, according to new analysis comparing employment opportunities across hundreds of local authority areas.
The figures reveal a marked divide between university cities and parts of the country where job availability remains scarce, with some areas offering fewer than 300 vacancies per 100,000 people. The contrast shows how location continues to shape employment prospects, particularly for those at the start of their careers or looking to change roles.
The analysis examined vacancy data from 342 local authorities and found that areas with large student populations and knowledge-based employers consistently outperformed both major cities and rural regions.
University cities dominate job availability
Cambridge ranked first nationally, recording 11,135 job vacancies per 100,000 residents. Manchester placed second with 7,827 vacancies per 100,000, followed by Oxford on 7,345. Bristol and Reading completed the top five.
The pattern reflects the concentration of higher education institutions, research centres and technology employers in these areas, alongside hospitality and service roles that support student populations.
London ranked only 18th despite its scale, with 4,186 vacancies per 100,000 residents. Birmingham placed 29th with 3,471 vacancies per 100,000. Higher population levels appear to dilute per-capita availability, even where overall job numbers are large.
The analysis noted that platform-based work continues to cluster in major cities, but vacancy data does not distinguish between permanent, temporary or part-time roles, meaning headline availability does not always translate into job security.
Scottish, Northern Irish areas among worst performers
At the other end of the rankings, Broadland in Norfolk recorded the lowest level of job availability, with just 290 vacancies per 100,000 residents. East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire followed, with 310 and 404 vacancies per 100,000 respectively.
South Staffordshire and Causeway Coast and Glens in Northern Ireland rounded out the bottom five, each recording fewer than 450 vacancies per 100,000 residents.
The gap between top and bottom locations is stark. Based on the figures, jobseekers in Broadland face a labour market nearly 40 times tighter than those in Cambridge.
Location plays decisive role in job prospects
Karim Salama, founder of E-Innovate, a digital agency that carried out the analysis, said the findings showed how uneven access to work remains across the UK.
“These figures expose a massive gap in job opportunities across UK regions, highlighting the north-south divide clearly. University cities have become employment powerhouses by attracting knowledge-based businesses that are looking for graduates, specifically in tech and business sectors,” he said.
He added that student populations also shape local labour markets beyond graduate roles. “Those university cities also have plenty of seasonal and part time opportunities that help students to fund their study. It’s important to recognise that job boards or websites don’t distinguish between sectors or if a job is full or part-time, making studies like this an excellent overview.”
Salama said mobility could improve outcomes for some workers but warned against reading vacancy figures in isolation. “Where you live dramatically impacts your job prospects. People willing to move could boost their career chances and earning potential overnight. However, residents should be careful to check job details and ensure that they suit the applicant.”
The analysis combined Office for National Statistics vacancy data covering January 2017 to October 2022 with current job listings gathered from Glassdoor in April 2025. Historical vacancy data was drawn from Textkernel, which aggregates online job adverts from tens of thousands of recruitment sites.
Vacancy totals were adjusted against local authority population figures to produce a per-100,000 ranking, allowing for comparison across areas of different sizes.
While the methodology provides a broad view of regional opportunity, the researchers noted that vacancy data does not account for job quality, security or competition, all of which continue to shape the lived experience of jobseekers across the UK.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
