Worst areas for tech jobs in the UK 2024

Posted by author August 25, 2024 Jobs

Workers in a business hub. Image by Tim Sandle.

According to a review by the company eskimoz.co.uk, while London continues to dominate the top spots for technology job opportunities, other areas of the nation struggle. In particular, areas in the North East and Wales are facing challenges.

The data reveals that Thurrock in Essex ranks at the bottom with a score of 50, marking it as the least favourable area for tech jobs in the UK. There are currently 300 enterprises, and this figure is expected to fall as Thurrock’s tech sector is declining at the second-fastest rate of 35.9 percent.

Moreover, technology workers, aged 16 and over, account for a small percentage of the total workforce, at 3.1 percent. The average hourly wage in tech has reached a modest £16.33.

Employed residents aged 16 and over undertake a daily commute of 85,951 km to reach their workplaces.

Rank	Local Authority: County / Unitary (as of April 2023)	Region	Distance Traveled To Work in a Year (in Km.)	Employment Percentage of Information & Communication Industries	Gross Hourly Median Pay (2023)	Growth Percentage of Information & Communication Enterprises (2020-2023)	Final Score
1	Thurrock	East of England	85951	3.1	16.33	-35.48	50
2	Swindon	South West	117869	5.4	17.89	-33.33	53.52
3	Bexley	London	117984	5	18.01	-36.41	53.71
4	Essex	East of England	713793	4	16.77	-25.5	54.02
5	Redbridge	London	141627	6.6	17.31	-32.62	54.59
6	South Tyneside	North East	62505	3.2	14.87	-25.81	55.22
7	Bradford	Yorkshire and The Humber	221139	3.1	16.26	-25.57	55.42
8	Barking and Dagenham	London	94589	3.6	16.84	-25.6	55.96
9	Brent	London	160994	6.1	16.7	-26.83	56.17
10	St. Helens	North West	82623	2.9	14.21	-24.44	56.22
11	Greenwich	London	142934	7	17.96	-28.89	56.99
12	Luton	East of England	98721	3.6	17.35	-26.36	57.03
13	Havering	London	124784	4.2	21.05	-30.18	57.08
14	Cheshire West and Chester	North West	169088	3.7	16.43	-24.39	57.13
15	Sunderland	North East	117151	2.7	14.95	-21.15	57.33
16	Hampshire	South East	687300	6.2	17.73	-24.58	57.34
17	Sandwell	West Midlands	141071	2.2	15.13	-21.92	57.37
18	Nottinghamshire	East Midlands	386911	3.4	14.87	-18.6	57.67
19	Leicester	East Midlands	154934	2.5	15.62	-22.01	57.74
20	Lancashire	North West	556873	2.8	15.44	-16.74	57.76

Swindon ranks second from the bottom with a score of 53.5. It has a tech of 610 companies, yet it is also facing a rapid decline at 33.3 percent, third-fastest on the list. Pay an average hourly salary of £17.89.

Bexley is in the third-lowest position, with a score of 53.7. Although it has a modest number of 690 firms, the tech industry is currently experiencing the fastest decline at 36.4 percent.

Essex ranks fourth from the bottom with a score of 54. Although it has one of the largest tech industries with 3,695 enterprises, the sector is currently shrinking by 25.5 percent. Nevertheless, a reasonable percentage of the workforce in Essex (4 percent) can find employment in technology. The average hourly salary is currently £16.77. Redbridge ranks fifth from the bottom with a score of 54.5. Despite a strong foundation in tech, with a base of 1,425 enterprises, the industry is currently experiencing a contraction (minus 32.6 percent).