If you’re a recent grad - or even several years into your career and craving a change – re-locating and trying your hand in a different city might be on the cards. Here are the best European cities for English speaking jobs.
1. Computing and IT
Barcelona
In recent years, Barcelona has become a serious rival to the more well-known tech cities of Berlin and London. In January, €214 million was invested in Spanish start-ups and Barcelona is at the forefront of this drive to boost the tech scene, home to more than 1,000 start-ups as well as Sónar+D, the creative tech festival. With its affordability and peerless quality of life, encouraging young developers to move to this sunny seaside city requires very little persuasion.
Dublin
Dublin, with its historic buildings and vibrant pub culture, may not immediately spring to mind as a competitor to Silicon Valley. But the city’s tech scene is on the up, thanks to its young workforce bursting with tech know-how and the big-name companies like AirBnB, Apple and Facebook who have offices there, attracted by the low taxes among other things. Whether because of the beer or the superior abilities of Dublin’s developers, it’s clear that the Irish capital is worth keeping an eye on.
Lisbon
There was a time that Portugal was one of the most high-profile victims of the recession, requiring a €78 billion bailout. But now everyone seems to be talking about Lisbon’s tech industry boom. As well as government strategies to entice entrepreneurs to the city, such as the possibility of a ‘start-up visa’, this coastal capital also boasts low cost of living and high quality of life and is known for its characterful beauty and easy-going charm.
2. Business and Finance
Dublin
Dublin, Europe’s fasting growing economy, is a rising star in the banking world - mainly thanks to the ongoing car-crash that is Brexit. The financial giants are setting up precautionary satellite offices in Dublin, and many are considering moving their headquarters there. Citibank, Lufthansa and Accenture are all based in the capital, and it's also a great place to conduct business thanks to its size, transport system and easy airport-access.
Milan
Already the financial hub of Italy, like many European cities Milan is hoping to lure over financial institutions departing London post-Brexit and to become the next European centre for banking. The city’s mayor made it an even more tempting prospect with the suggestion of a possible tax-free zone for businesses. Plus, Milan is home to one of Europe’s top universities for business and finance, guaranteeing access to exceptional talent.
Paris
Paris is also making bids to be Europe’s next banking capital, flexing its financial muscles and trying to woo workers in the sector with strategies including the cutting of corporate tax rate from 33% to 25%. The city is already a popular destination for business with eight of the world’s top 100 companies based there - including oil giant Total and the bank BNP Paribas - while HSBC is just one of the banks that said it will move 1000 job posts to Paris if a hard Brexit goes ahead. If you want to be a high-flyer in the financial world, Paris could be the destination for you.
3. Art and Design
Berlin
No surprises here. Berlin trumps most cities when it comes to trend-setting. Culturally diverse, it offers a plethora of exciting and unique artistic venues, and 10% of employees work in creative industries. With the low rents, green spaces, long summers, and a city that lives and breathes innovation, if you work in art and design, moving here is basically a no-brainer.
London
The beating heart of the UK's booming design scene, London is known for its multiculturalism and commitment to diversity. With its many individual and unique neighbourhoods, it's hard to imagine a place with greater variety of inspiration and influence. However, the hair-raising cost of rent and the equally high price of everything else makes London an enticing but impractical choice for many creatives.
Barcelona
With its spectacular architecture and rich artistic heritage, it doesn’t come as a shock that Barcelona is one of the world’s design capitals. Creatives flock here, attracted by a city that displays ground-breaking artistic ingenuity at every turn. Oh, and there’s also Barcelona’s laidback lifestyle, temperate climate and thriving co-working scene. Designers from more than 55 different countries reside in the city and it’s also the centre for exciting artistic projects such as the Barcelona Design Innovation Cluster (BDIC).
4. Engineering
Frankfurt
Germany, with the highest number of engineers in the EU, is indisputably the continent’s epicentre of engineering, and Frankfurt, in particular, is a smart choice for graduates looking for engineering jobs. The centre of the German logistics and mobility industries, it’s also home to The Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences which dedicates two of its four faculties to engineering: Architecture and Civil Engineering and Informatics and Engineering. Plus, with 215 of engineers in the country aged 55, young talent is both sought after and well rewarded: the average salary in Germany for engineering jobs ranges from €38-65.
Lyon
With politicians introducing an ambitious support program for the industry, engineering in France has a real potential to boom and Lyon is a compelling choice for graduates. It’s home to INSA Lyon, the leading engineering university in France and part of the INSA Group - widely respected on the world engineering scene and representing a community of 80,000 engineers in total, 36,000 of whom are based in Lyon. This makes the city an ideal destination if you’re looking to establish yourself in the industry.
Bilbao
Bilbao has recently transformed itself from gritty industrial port-city to a vibrant cultural hotspot. However, the city remains true to its roots and still waves its industrial flag high. 125 engineering sector companies are based in the Basque country, making Bilbao - the largest city in the region and home to the electrical utility multinational Iberdrola - a great choice for engineers. Other factors that make Bilbao an attractive home include its low cost of living, delicious pinxtos, and position on a stunning coastline.
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
If you enjoyed reading this, check out some of our other articles:
How to Find the Perfect Internship in London, UK
How to Become a Freelancer in Germany
Getting Started in Lisbon
21 Reasons Why We Should All Move to Barcelona
To 5 Neighbourhoods to Live in Bilbao