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Jobs in Watford | Pictures of Watford
Located 16 miles to the north-west of London and a stone throw from St Albans, lies the Hertfordshire town of Watford . With a population of 80,000 concentrated within little more that 21 sq miles, Watford is the most densely populated district in England . And as part of the London commuter belt, its local economy is strongly influenced and buoyed by the capital.
Then and now
Originally a market town, Watford remained an agricultural economy with a modest cottage industry throughout the Middle Ages until the late eighteenth century. And with the construction of the Grand Union Canal and more significantly the London to Birmingham railway line, the town's improved communications network stimulated the growth of an industrial and manufacturing sector, particularly printing.
Today, Watford 's economy has shifted away from being manufacturing-led towards being services-led, in line with national trends. Indeed, the printing industry, for instance, has diversified into a publishing and multi-media sector. Whilst the former Rolls Royce jet-engine factory is now Leavesden Studios – Europe's largest indoor film studio, which has increased Watford 's role as a popular film and TV location. However, although the role of manufacturing as a major employer has largely diminished, there are still a number of people employed in the sector with the likes of Mirror Colour Print Watford being a significant employer in the area, along with Iveco.
Building on its market town heritage combined with its prominent location along the main London commuter belt, with an increasing number of people moving away from the capital in search of a better quality of life, Watford has developed as an attractive and popular regional shopping and leisure district. And with a continued programme of expansion taking place in the city, this has sustained a number of jobs in the retail, hotels, restaurants and distribution sector.
Indeed, this sector accounts for around 31 per cent of the workforce making it one of the most important sectors in terms of income generation and employment creation, with a number of leading businesses headquartered in Watford , including JD Wetherspoons, Mothercare and the Hilton International Group. Whereas John Lewis Group and Tesco, ASDA and Marks & Spencer are also significant employers within these sectors.
Being so close to the UK 's financial capital, it inevitably follows that the banking, finance and insurance sector plays a significant role in Watford 's economy. And it does. In fact, almost a quarter of all employment opportunities can be found in these fields and the finance industry has been identified as one of Watford 's key growth sectors.
Central to the town's transition toward a service-based economy is the public sector. Although its contribution to the local GDP may be lower than the finance and retail sectors, its role in employment creation exceeds all others. With Watford Borough Council being one of the largest employers in the area, more than 1 in 3 people make their living in the fields of public administration, health and education.
The construction industry is another key employer in the area, with the likes of Haydon Young, Taylor Woodrow and Balfour Beatty supporting the main share of jobs in the area.
In addition to the major employment sectors above, there are a number of significant employers in Watford that fall under the so-called ‘Other' category, including the Camelot Group, Total Oil and TK Maxx.
Key business districts
Watford 's commercial district is concentrated in the compact town centre, along High Street and the Harlequin Shopping Centre. Whereas the financial district is largely focused around Clarendon Road between the town centre and Watford Junction station.
Elsewhere, there are a number of key industrial parks on the outskirts of the town, including Moor Park Industrial Estate and Sandown Rd Industrial.
If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Watford.
Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Watford below.
Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Watford or find out more information on the local area.