Wages up in Hull, Liverpool and Manchester but employment down.

Wages are up in Hull, Liverpool, Manchester and across the UK. But employment is down according to latest payroll filings.

Wages were up in Hull, Liverpool, Manchester and elsewhere in the north this month amidst lower employment.

Latest pay and employment data by WageSight for May 2025 highlights a complex economic picture for the towns and cities along the north's M62 corridor, between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and Hull.

Company payroll data showed median wages in Leeds topped the regional rankings at £2,438 in May, closely followed Wakefield (£2,428), where salaries increased by 6.1% year-on-year.

However, workers at each end of the M62 corridor saw the strongest growth, with pay in Hull up 7%, and 6.3% in Liverpool on the year.

The data, contained in our latest report Employment and Pay in the UK May 202 powered by our WageSight app, is sourced from official payroll data reported to HMRC.

For more information about the salary and employment data in the towns and cities where you work, contact: paul@campaignsalience.co.uk

Employment down across the north

There was a mixed picture on employment across the region, with jobs in Manchester seeing the sharpest decline (-1.6%). Elsewhere, despite being West Yorkshire's employment powerhouse with around 372,510 jobs, employment in Leeds is down -0.7% year-on-year. Employment in Barnsley, Doncaster, and Rotherham (355,853 jobs) also fell by -0.7%, while Calderdale and Kirklees saw a drop of -1.2%. Sheffield showed modest stability with a slight month-on-month increase of payrolled employees of 0.4%, though employment overall was still down -0.8% compared to same time last year.

Implications for employers and recruiters

This mixed scenario presents distinct challenges for employers and recruiters. Rising wages in cities such as Liverpool and Hull suggest growing competitive pressures, potentially exacerbating local talent shortages as businesses compete to attract and retain skilled employees. Meanwhile, employment declines, particularly in Manchester and Leeds, may require employers to rethink retention strategies and enhance compensation packages to remain competitive in attracting talent.

Recruiters and employment agencies in Manchester and Liverpool should closely monitor local job market conditions to offer informed recruitment services. Businesses across the region, especially those experiencing significant employment decreases, will likely need to adopt proactive talent retention and innovative hiring strategies.

About WageSight

WageSight provides detailed monthly insights into local pay and employment trends by harnessing payroll data collected from UK companies by the Office for National Statistics. The app supports recruitment agencies, employers, and local government stakeholders in making informed strategic decisions. For further information, please contact Paul Hebden at: paul@campaignsalience.co.uk