With over in the city area (and over 617,000 in the urban area as a whole), Brighton is a popular destination among expats from all walks of life. Once you visit the city and grasp its lively, colourful vibe through its shops, art scene and festivals, it is easy to understand why expats choose Brighton as their work location and potential home.
Work opportunities in Brighton are mainly in the education, technology, entrepreneurial and creative sectors. The city also boasts a substantial tourist industry that peaks during summer and the LGBT Brighton Pride international festival.
Why Brighton is a good place for work
Brighton remains one of England's most dynamic cities for employment opportunities. If you want to work in England, Brighton continues to offer employees a chance to maintain a good balance between productivity at work and the quality of their personal life.
Besides fantastic pebbly beach scenery that will rejuvenate you daily, Brighton has an incredible sense of community and an outdoorsy lifestyle thanks to its natural surroundings of the South Downs countryside. Thanks to its two prominent universities and LGBTQI+ scene, Brighton is a forward-thinking, cosmopolitan city that rightfully holds the title of the little London by the sea.
You'll never tire of Brighton's quaint shops hidden in The Lanes, and you will never run out of food options with endless dining opportunities that cater to all tastes.
Brighton is less than a 50-minute train ride away from London and about 30 minutes on the train from Gatwick Airport, making it a very well-connected city that benefits commuters. Within Brighton, walking and cycling are always options, and there's always a bus service to take you there for longer distances.
Good to know:
In England, bank and public holidays are additional leave on top of your annual leave.
Usually, each year has eight bank and public holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Late Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Brighton's leading employers
England's unemployment rate stood at 4.3% as of October 2025, with Brighton typically performing better than the national average thanks to its diverse economy and strong education and technology sectors.
Brighton has a strong and diverse economy. The job market is enriched by Brighton's many small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, which focus on technology, digital marketing, the creative arts and even holistic therapies.
The various independent shops and restaurants here contribute to the local economy and provide employment opportunities for part-time students, too.
If you want to search for jobs in Brighton by sector, look for Brighton's more popular sectors - including business, education, engineering, healthcare, hospitality and technology.
Here's the lowdown on some of the city's biggest employers:
American Express
For over 50 years, American Express has had its European headquarters in Brighton, and together with the NHS, they are the biggest employers in the city.
University of Sussex, The University of Brighton and Brighton College
If you want to work in education, there are several possibilities in Brighton.
The University of Sussex, first of all, is housed on the edge of Brighton in arguably one of the most beautiful university campuses in England. Staff members here benefit from access to world-class resources, gym and sports memberships and various staff activities.
On the other hand, the University of Brighton offers academic, administrative and managerial jobs with competitive salaries. This university values work-life balance and encourages flexible working. Employees here also have access to job-sharing arrangements, family-friendly schemes and health and welfare support.
Finally, Brighton College. There's a big focus on its wellbeing program, which offers things like yoga, Pilates and mindfulness to its employees. Benefits also include health assessments, a cycle-to-work scheme and a range of discount vouchers.
Brighton and Hove City Council
Brighton and Hove City Council offers flexible working, term-time jobs and job share arrangements while offering full-time staff generous holidays between 25 and 34 days (plus bank and public holidays).
Good to know:
Other leading employers in Brighton continue to include Lloyds Bank, ASDA and the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company.
The average salary in Brighton
As of 2025, the average salary in Brighton is £38,175 according to , which is an increase from the previously reported £36,000.
However, the employment landscape in Brighton remains relatively stable, though specific local unemployment rates in 2025 are measured as part of broader regional statistics.
The sector you work in also influences your salary in Brighton, with technology, education and creative industries often offering higher compensation packages.
Moreover, the city's proximity to London also means expats here can access higher London salaries while enjoying Brighton's lower cost of living relative to the capital, making it a good option for commuters and remote workers.
Finding a job in Brighton
To start your job search in Brighton, begin with online job boards like TotalJobs,, LinkedIn and —these can be filtered to Brighton vacancies only for easy searching. Local resources in Brighton that are worth trying are the local dedicated job site as well as (Brighton's local paper with job listings) and the website for public sector roles.
If you want to work in retail, cafes, or restaurants, consider printing out your CV to hand-deliver it to the hiring places. These types of positions are widely available in Brighton, and most employers are happy to recruit students part-time.
For networking, head to - an annual networking event for tech professionals - or explore local meetups and professional associations related to your industry, like , , and the Brighton chapters.
Checking for Brighton-specific groups in your industry is also worth a look, as is , LinkedIn groups focused on Brighton professionals. Take a look at Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý coworking spaces for event listings as well.
Good to know:
Fluency in another language (as well as a good command of English) is a huge asset when applying for hospitality and tourism jobs, especially if you target businesses that would benefit from the languages you speak.
Useful links:
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
