*AD: Collaboration with The Big Jobsite

Sian Victoria © - Library of Birmingham rooftop, Centenary Square

West Midlands Job Employment Opportunities

Birmingham is considered the UK’s second city since there are many reasons to visit Birmingham to enjoy its flourishing hospitality, retail, and leisure offerings. For this reason, there are also many reasons to consider relocating to the West Midlands with the vibrant city and its surrounding regions being a great destination to move to and to benefit from the variety of employment opportunities a bustling city like Birmingham can provide.

As someone who has lived, studied, and worked in the West Midlands for over 30 years and has had both employment and self-employment experiences in the city. I’ve put together a guide on what you can expect from working and living in Birmingham, why it’s the perfect city to create an enjoyable work-life balance that we all so desperately crave to benefit our mental well-being and what type of job opportunities in the West Midlands are available for job seekers.

What are the benefits of living in Birmingham?

Birmingham gets a lot of slack for being a ‘dull’ city, but those who say that haven’t visited Birmingham in the past decade. In recent years Birmingham has transformed into a thriving metropolis with every corner of the city centre either already been developed or in a development process to create new job opportunities and even more reasons for people to visit Birmingham.

Sian Victoria © - Grand Central, New Street Station, Birmingham

So, what are the benefits of living in Birmingham? What does the city have to offer jobseekers and why should the city be considered if you’re relocating to Birmingham or the West Midlands:

Birmingham is one of the youngest cities in Europe with over 40% of the population under the age of 25 and that is why its home to five great universities. Having a young and vibrant city means there are plenty of fun leisure activities in Birmingham to keep residents entertained, so you’ll always have something exciting to look forward to after work or at the weekend.
With a great leisure offering comes a great food & drink scene too. Home of the ‘Balti Triangle’, more Michelin-star restaurants outside of London and a vibrant independent and street-food scene. Birmingham is an amazing place for foodies. So, you’ll never run out of places to eat brunch in Birmingham or independent places to buy coffee in Birmingham while on your morning or lunch commute in the city. And, not to forget all the instagrammable restaurants and cocktail bars in Birmingham – that are perfect places for after-work drinks with colleagues and where you’re sure to make a new ‘Brummie’ friend. If you’re relocating to Birmingham.
Home of the NEC, one of the UK’s top venues and the Birmingham hippodrome one of the UK’s busiest theatres and over 50 festivals a year being hosted across the region you’ll always have an exciting venue to visit if you enjoy live music and entertainment when moving to the city.
If you love the great outdoors then moving to Birmingham isn’t a problem either, the city has more parks and green spaces than Paris (and more canals than Venice!). So, you’ll find plenty of places to enjoy summit hikes with views of Birmingham as well as places to walk in the West Midlands for nature lovers.
The region has the largest Primark in the world as well as many great places for shopping in Birmingham that are suitable for all budgets.

Sian Victoria © - The Whitmore Collection, Apartment complex, Jewellery Quarter

Is Birmingham a good place to live and work?

Since Birmingham is a young and vibrant city with a wide selection of brilliant leisure activities, restaurants, bars, live venues, shopping places, and an extensive list of green spaces to explore for recreation. There’s no denying that Birmingham is an amazing place to live and work if you’re seeking the perfect work-life balance.

With Birmingham being considered the second city in the UK you’ll also find the cost of living here a lot more affordable than in the capital too. So, you’ll save a lot more money when it comes to travelling around the city and its many regions, renting, shopping for essentials, going out or even purchasing property since you’ll get a lot more for your money in comparison to London where properties are smaller and a lot more expensive.

Especially, if you rent or buy a home in one of the many historic towns in the West Midlands. Where you can enjoy the slower-paced suburb lifestyle yet can hop on a train and be in the hustle and bustle of city life in no time.

Sian Victoria © - Exterior of Grand Central, New Street Station, Birmingham

Is Birmingham good for job opportunities?

As Birmingham is a thriving city with new developments always being built, especially for new hotels in Birmingham’s city centre or new shopping and leisure experiences. You’ll find that the city isn’t short of exciting and challenging job opportunities.

If you’re seeking to work in the creative industry, then Digbeth known as the ‘Creative Quarter’ a short walk from the iconic Bullring shopping centre may just be the perfect place for you to look. And if you want to work in jewellery or fashion, then the historic Jewellery Quarter is for you.

Alternatively, if you want to work in finance, as a solicitor or some sort of managerial or administrative role then within the many offices of Colmore Row and its surrounding office blocks may be where you’ll find the most roles. And if you want to work in the city but away from the busy streets then the upmarket Edgbaston Village will have many of the same opportunities but in a more relaxed environment.

When it comes to roles in a factory or warehouse setting these are most likely to be found on the outskirts of the city or within the many West Midlands towns such as Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley. Historically known as Black Country regions due to clouds of smoke from all the factories during the industrial revolution.

There are also places like Sutton Coldfield and Solihull to consider that border the city centre. So, wherever you decide to relocate to or are from the West Midlands there are many job opportunities to be found in this part of England that is easily accessible and well connected by road, tram and railway.

Not only is Birmingham great for job opportunities, but it is also a fantastic city for business, and more often than not businesses tend to thrive, so much so that finding reliable accountants in Birmingham might be something worth considering keeping your business finances in check and up to date.

Sian Victoria © - Bennetts Hill, Birmingham

What job opportunities are there in Birmingham and the West Midlands?

According to The Big Jobsite an employment vacancy website to find up-to-date jobs, and receive job alerts and job notifications these are the most popular Birmingham job opportunities available to jobseekers right now.

Warehouse Operatives, Warehouse Associates and Warehouse Package Handlers
Delivery Drivers
Data Entry Clerk (mostly all working from home)
Care Assistants and Support Workers
Cleaners and housekeepers
Receptionist and Administrative Assistants
Stock control assistant
Flight Attendant
Hospitality Server and bartenders
Registered Nurses
Customer Service Advisor and call centre agents
Cashiers and Store Managers

Sian Victoria © - Overlooking St Martin’s Square from Bullring & Grand Central rooftop

What job sectors are most in demand in Birmingham? And what are the average salaries?

As shown from the above job opportunities list gathered from The Big Jobsite website at the end of January 2023. You’ll find that the most employment opportunities available on the job market right now are in the following sectors and have the approximate full-time average yearly salaries:

Factory & Warehouse – from £23,400 for operatives and between £30,000 - £35,000 for managerial roles
Care – approx. £25,000 per annum
Customer service – from £20,000 for assistant roles and up to £35,000 for executive and analyst roles
Administrative – from £19,000 for assistant and data entry roles and up to £28,000 for senior responsibilities
Hospitality – from £18,000 for server roles, from £20,000 for chef roles and up to £35,000 for food and beverage managerial roles
Retail – from £17,000 for cashier roles, from £21,000 for merchandising and supervisor roles and from £28,000 for manager responsibilities.

With such a wide job market available in the West Midlands with varied roles and levels of responsibilities, these are the approximate salaries. Actual figures for each job available in every sector can be found on The Big Jobsite.

According to July 2021, UK Salary News the West Midlands experienced an average advertised salary increase of £512 in the year 2021. So with the increase in the national minimum wage this April 2023 salaries for many are likely to increase, but then so is the cost of living.

Sian Victoria © - St. Philip's Cathedral, Colmore Row, Birmingham

How much is the national minimum living wage?

As of April 2023, the National Living Wage applies to those who are aged 23 and over. And the National Minimum Wage applies to ages 22 and under. Including, those on an apprenticeship. The rates are:

Ages 23 and over - £10.42
Ages 21 to 22 - £10.18
Ages 18 to 20 - £7.49
Under 18 and Apprentice - £5.28

How much do you need to live comfortably in Birmingham?

With the cost of living increasing significantly in the past twelve months across the UK, it’s difficult to say how much you’ll need to live comfortably in Birmingham with a lot of ongoing uncertainty all over the country. But Birmingham and the West Midlands remains an affordable place to live in comparison to London and other cities in England, acording to the current rental rates I've seen on properties to rent in Birmingham.

As the West Midlands has a lot of choices for its residents when it comes to shopping for essentials at a variety of supermarkets or discounted retailers, choosing an internet provider and where to source gas, electricity, and water from. As well as how to get around the region via public transport or with an electric or petrol car. You’ll be able to find a place to shop and a utility supplier to fit your budget.

Sian Victoria © - The River Fountain, Victoria Square, Birmingham

When it comes to housing, in Birmingham city centre you can find studio flats to rent for as little as £80 a week, some with utilities included, or one-bed apartments from £500 pm or between £600 - £900 for a two-bed apartment or from £1,000 for more luxurious city block rentals. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the city and across the West Midlands you can rent a two-to-three-bedroom home between £600 - £900pm.

Depending on your dietary needs and where you choose to shop for food essentials. A weekly supermarket shop for one person is approximately £30 - £50. And when it comes to eating and drinking out in Birmingham, a main meal with a non-alcoholic drink in a city centre restaurant will cost approx. £11 - £19.

To conclude

So, there you go. A general overview of what living and working in Birmingham or the surrounding West Midlands regions has to offer jobseekers and those looking to relocate for work. As someone who has lived, studied, and worked in the city for over 30 years and has had the pleasure to work with a variety of local businesses from a variety of industries as a Birmingham blogger I can honestly say that Birmingham has provided me with not only a fantastic university education at a Masters’s level. But some amazing work opportunities were only possible due to it being one of the most developed cities in the UK.

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