Best Cities for Tradespeople
New research has been provided by bathroom hardware supplier Sanctuary Bathrooms. The new ranking analysed the average wages of electrians, plumbers, joiners and painter decorators, alongside cost of living data. The data revealed that the best opportunities for tradespeople are concentrated in the north of England, with seven of the top ten cities located above the Watford Gap.
The top 10 cities are:
The rankings also revealed that:
- Leeds has the highest concentration of tradespeople in the workforce, making up 10.3% of the city’s working population;
- University College London offers the best Building degree course, with a rating of 99.2 out of 100;
- Glasgow offers the best rates of pay for tradespeople across the board, with electricians earning an average annual wage of £28,683
James Roberts, director of Sanctuary Bathrooms, commented:
“As a company with our roots tied into the trade sector, both through our employees and our clients, we wanted to look where to find the best opportunities for tradespeople in the UK.
“The results are a useful resource for those wanting to embark on a career as a tradesperson, and also highlight important hubs for related businesses to expand into."
For full results, graphics and methodology, visit the Sanctuary Bathrooms blog here.
To find out more here’s a blog post with all the stats here : www.sanctuary-bathrooms.co.uk/blog/best-cities-tradespeople
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