Cities across Yorkshire and the Humber ranked above UK average for work-life balance according to PwC’s Good Growth for Cities Index

• Cities in PwC’s Good Growth for Cities Index in Yorkshire & the Humber are all performing above the UK average for work-life balance
• Five of the seven Yorkshire cities included perform above the UK average on income distribution
• York is the 14th highest ranked UK city, coming second only to Preston across the North

All seven Yorkshire cities included in PwC’s Good Growth for Cities Index have out-performed the UK average on delivering against the public’s priority of work-life balance, measured by an increase in the proportion of employed people working less than 45 hours a week.

The Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index ranks 50 of the UK’s largest cities (generally considered those with populations of at least 350,000 people), plus the London boroughs as a whole, based on the public’s assessment of 12 economic measures, including jobs, health, income, safety and skills, as well as work-life balance, housing, travel-to-work times, income equality, high street shops, environment and business startups. 

Five cities in Yorkshire also perform ahead of the UK average for income distribution, measured by the ratio of median to mean income, an indicator of wealth equity. All seven Yorkshire cities included in the Index rank either above or in line with the UK average on housing, as well as skills in the 16-24 year old age bracket. 

York is the highest ranked city out of those included in Yorkshire in the index. It performs above average on measures such as jobs, work-life balance, skills (all ages), safety and high streets. York is the second highest Northern city in the index, coming second only to Preston. 

Year on year, out of all the cities analysed across Yorkshire, Huddersfield has seen the highest ranking increase in this year’s report, moving up eight places in the rankings. This increase is thanks to improved performances on new business, transport, income distribution. 

In terms of areas for improvement, the data shows cities in Yorkshire need a continued focus on measures such as jobs, health, transport, the environment and new businesses. 

Andy Ward, Market Senior Partner for PwC Leeds and Bradford, said:

“Many people re-evaluated their priorities during the pandemic, so it’s great to see Yorkshire performing so well for work-life balance, which we know is important to the public. 

“Although this report highlights some areas in which Yorkshire performs below the UK average, it can be used as a map of opportunity, showing where continued support from public and private businesses, local and central government and community organisations can have a real impact on public priorities. PwC is continually investing in Yorkshire, and our work on social mobility across the region is just one example of this.”