Jobs in Sunderland | Pictures of Sunderland

Sunderland is unashamedly proud of its industrial heritage. And so it should be. Having established itself as the shipbuilding capital of the world only to see the industry cruelly disappear from its shores, Sunderland has drawn upon its natural strengths and remerged once again as a world-leading manufacturing centre that has successfully diversified its economy to bring it in line with twenty-first century demands.

Then and now
Over the centuries Sunderland grew as a port trading salt. And when the Industrial Revolution kick-started the coal industry, Sunderland’s close proximity to the Newcastle coalmines just 13 miles away saw its port rapidly develop as a leading exporter.

However, Sunderland really made its name in the industry that was to both make and break the town: shipbuilding.

Famously hailed as the ‘Largest Shipbuilding Town in the World’, Sunderland first started building ships as early as 1346 and reached its zenith in the 1930s. But extensive bombing raids on the town during World War Two virtually wiped out the industry. Falling demand and competition from overseas coupled with recession in the post-war aftermath saw the beginning of the end for the industry. And in 1988, the last shipyard in Sunderland closed its gates.

So with the traditional industries of coal-mining and shipbuilding gone, Sunderland was compelled to seek out new economic drivers, namely reinventing itself as a service-based economy. But it was actually the manufacturing sector that kick-started the process and from out of the gloom in the 1980s came a ray of light that would eventually reignite what had become one of the most deprived economies in the UK.

Indeed, recognising Sunderland’s ready-made highly skilled workforce, Japanese car manufacturer Nissan, opened the largest car assembly plant in the UK, employing over 4,500 workers. Today, the Nissan plant is the most productive of its kind in Europe and the company continues to be the largest employer in the manufacturing sector which – along with other leading organisations including Nike and Rolls Royce Plc - accounts for around 16.8 per cent of all jobs in Sunderland – some 5 per cent higher than the national average.

Slightly ahead of the manufacturing industry in terms of employment levels is the finance and business services sector. With the likes of Barclays Bank, Electricite de France (EDF) and T-Mobile running significant operations from Sunderland, this sector employs more than 17 per cent (about 21,000 people) of the workforce. And within this sector falls IT, the growth of which has earned Sunderland the enviable status as being one of the world’s seven most IT-intelligent communities and top-rated public services.

The retail sector is also on a par with the finance and manufacturing industries, employing approximately 22,000 people. With a significant amount of money being invested in Sunderland’s retail offering - such as improved shopping areas, restaurants and bars - this sector will continue to grow in the coming years.

Much of the £1bn regeneration that is taking place in the area is as much to do with attracting outside investment and, ultimately, increasing Sunderland’s appeal as a place to live and work. Interestingly, it is estimated that for every 1000 new residents in the city, the local economy benefits by a minimum of £12.5m per year. For every 1000 students who choose Sunderland as a place to study, there’s a boost to the local economy of £6m per year.

And central to enticing outside investors and promoting the benefits of living in Sunderland, is the public sector. As the administrative centre that represents around 180,000 people, it is predictable that the education, public administration and health sectors employ a significant higher proportion of the local workforce than any other. Indeed, Sunderland City Council, the University and the College are some of the biggest employers in the area, whilst the wider public sector accounts for almost 30 per cent of all jobs.

Key business districts
Doxford International Business Park is the largest of its kind in the area. This 32-hectare site on the outskirts of the city has become one of the region's key locations for corporate HQs and financial and customer services, with around 8,000 people now employed by businesses such as CitiFinancial, Barclays and Nike.

One business that selected Doxford International is mobile phone operator T-Mobile, part of Deutsche Telekom AG, which took advantage of the advanced telecommunications facilities to create a customer support centre.

Elsewhere, Sunderland Business Park is home to a number of leading businesses, including Lloyds TSB, Fusion Outsourcing and Berghaus. And Rainton Bridge South is being billed as a ‘next generation’ business park is expected to be one of the leading hubs for the city’s developing knowledge-based business, creating 4,000 new jobs.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Sunderland.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Sunderland below.

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Sunderland or find out more information on the local area.