Derby ranked ‘best city’ for new graduates in 2024

The vibrant city of Derby has been announced as the best city in the UK for new graduates in 2024.

The study commissioned by recruiting experts Talos360 ranked UK cities based on a combination of factors such as high average salaries, affordable rent, and overall graduate job prospects.

Derby beat behemoth cities of Manchester and Liverpool to the top spot as the best city for graduates.

The city in the heart of the country is more than just a really accessible place. 

Derby offers an excellent combination of high salaries and great housing affordability too, according to the data. 

Salary

Derby's average salary of £40,769 is the second highest average salary outside of London, indicating excellent earning potential for graduates. 

Rent

Derby is also ranked fourth for rental property affordability, with the average rent cost being comparatively low, at 22% of the average earnings.

However, those well paying jobs may present more of a challenge for grads to obtain, with Derby placing 15th for the number of  job opportunities per person. 

This means that while Derby presents great affordability and generous salaries, grads should be mindful of the challenges related to finding a job in the city as competition from other candidates may prove to be tough.

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Southampton came second place for best graduate cities, particularly excelling in job availability. The city currently has the fourth lowest number of job seekers per available role, meaning new grads may find it easier to find a job here than in most other cities.

Liverpool came third.

The two-time European City of Culture winner is a great choice for graduates due to its affordability and job availability. Workers can expect to spend 25.3% of their salary on rent and there are 33.6 job seekers per vacancy. 

Here is the full list of UK’s top 10 best cities for graduates 2024

1. Derby
2. Southampton
3. Liverpool
4. Cambridge
5. Nottingham
6. Edinburgh
7. Reading
8. Manchester
9. Portsmouth
10. Middlesbrough