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New data from Travis Perkins has revealed the top five cities in the UK where conditions are most favourable for construction workers, with Bristol, Edinburgh and Cardiff leading the way.
Travis Perkins analysed the top UK cities to determine the best place to work in construction, based on a combination of job opportunity, earnings, cost of living, and safety. The Best Place to Be a Construction Worker Index ranked major UK cities based on a combination of average salary, job availability, cost of living, and safety rates.
The number of construction job listings in each city was gathered using Adzuna’s job search API, as well as the average construction salaries. these were then used to assess where workers can expect to earn the most.
Rental affordability was determined using Numbeo’s Cost of Living database, focusing specifically on the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre.
Finally, crime levels were gathered from Numbeo’s Crime Index, which compiles user-reported data to reflect the relative safety of each city.
Each factor was weighted equally to produce an overall score out of 100, used to rank each city from most to least favourable for construction workers. Figures were normalised per 1,000 residents to ensure fair comparisons between cities of different sizes.
| Rank | City | Overall Score |
| 1 | Bristol | 100.00 |
| 2 | Edinburgh | 87.76 |
| 3 | Cardiff | 81.80 |
| 4 | Leicester | 78.79 |
| 5 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 77.96 |
Bristol topped the list thanks to its high concentration of job opportunities and competitive salaries averaging nearly £58,000.
Edinburgh ranked second overall, offering strong salaries and affordability for its size, while Cardiff stood out for its balance of job availability, moderate cost of living, and safety.
Leicester and Newcastle rounded out the top five, with both cities performing well across the board despite being more affordable than some of the top scorers.
Carine Jessamine, group marketing & digital director at Travis Perkins said “These findings highlight the vital role that local infrastructure, housing, and employment opportunities play in supporting the construction industry.
It’s encouraging to see cities where construction professionals are not only in demand, but also able to build stable, rewarding careers.”
