Reading is forecast to be the fastest growing economy 2017-19 according to the EY UK and Regions Economic Forecast 2016. 

Reading was named the best place to live and work in the Good Growth for Cities 2016 index (PwC/Demos) of the largest 36 economic areas in the UK, according to 10 key indicators key to economic success and wellbeing, including employment, health, income and skills. The Barclays UK Prosperity Map 2015 ranks Reading as the second most prosperous city in the UK. The UK Vitality Index 2016 ranks Reading the 4th best location for economic expansion and business growth (Lambert Smith Hampton) and joint top for 'most productive' and 'most entrepreneurial'. 

Reading is ranked second for productivity (behind London) in the Centre for Cities' City Monitor 2016. Reading also has the 5th best qualified workforce in the UK, with nearly 50% of Reading's population educated to NVQ4 or above; it is 5th for share of UK graduates (28% of population are graduates) and over a fifth of University of Reading graduates stay local thanks to the buoyant economy. The unemployment rate stands at 0.9% (Jan 2016). High wages attract a skilled workforce - Reading has the 4th highest average weekly wage in the UK (Centre for Cities 2016).  

Reading was ranked in the top 25 most attractive European cities for Foreign Direct Investment in the FDI European Cities & Regions of the Future (2016/17 - Financial Times). This benchmarks European cities against economic potential, human resources, cost effectiveness, quality of life, infrastructure and business friendliness. Reading was also rated second Small European city for business friendliness and ranked in the top ten in four other business categories in the FDI awards.

Reading has the 4^th highest start up rate in the UK, according to Centre for Cities. Reading has attracted many global companies and is home to 13 of the world’s top 30 brands. Microsoft, PepsiCo, Cisco, Symantec, BG Group, Oracle Corporation, Prudential, Foster Wheeler, Verizon all have offices in Reading.

For updated statistics and information on Reading's creative sector, visit this article: https://livingreading.co.uk/readings-creative-sector

Reading is only 25 minutes non-stop from London by train. Over 200 trains a day link Reading’s new £800 million station with London, just 25 minutes away.  There are direct links to hub airports - Heathrow (40 mins) and Gatwick (75 mins) and Reading is located on the M4 east /west motorway axis. Crossrail will link Reading directly to central London from 2019. Reading boasts an award-winning  bus company. Reading Buses has been named as Bus Operator of the Year at the National Bus Awards. 

Reading has 8 times the UK average tech density with over 42,000 people employed in digital jobs locally (Tech Nation 2018).  The turnover of the digital sector in eading is over £13.5 bn with productivity per worker standing at £234,000.

Reading borough has the best A Level results in the country (of 151 local authorities) for the fourth consecutive year. The combination of high achieving grammar schools and academies alongside leading independent schools means Reading pupils achieve the average student scoring 38.73, the highest in England.  Reading School (boys state grammar) is ranked 8th in the country for GCSE results.

In the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) European Cities & Regions of the Future (2012/13 - Financial Times), Reading was rated 5^th overall from over 250 cities in Europe for FDI and 4^th for its size for FDI strategy. Almost one fifth of all FDI in the south east comes to Reading.  In the last two years, Reading has recovered from the recession quickly and investment has followed. An £900 million investment in Reading station has improved connectivity with London, the rest of the UK and the gateways to Europe and the rest of the world.  Major speculative investments are coming on stream such as Forbury Place - 370,000 sq ft of international HQ space, Station Hill – 900,000 sq ft office, residential and retail and the University of Reading’s £50 million investment in a Science and Innovation Park. Recent deals include IQ Winnersh – 1.3 m sq ft sold in 2013 to Oaktree Capital Management for almost £250 million.

Rated was rated 8^th best European micro city for the quality of life, based on health, labour force and income according to the most recent FDI European Cities & Regions of the Future (2012/13 - Financial Times. The 2013 Good Growth for Cities’ report remarked that Reading’s size and location means it offers many of the benefits usually associated with large cities without the drawbacks. The RSA National Heritage Index (2015) rates Reading in the top 16 per cent of the country for its overall heritage, while the RSA 2016 Index puts Reading in the UK top 2% for museum assets and top 16% for heritage assets. Reading has 800 listed buildings, 15 conservation areas, two scheduled ancient monuments and five historic parks and gardens.

Reading is home to a number of beautiful business park developments, Grade A office space with lots of new build coming on line, serviced offices, refurbished office buildings – all much cheaper than London prices.

Reading is one of the most culturally diverse places for its size in the world with 150 languages spoken in homes across the Borough. 

Reading is second only to London for the concentration of SMEs, with 364.6% per 10,000 population in 2013 (Centre for Cities Small Business Monitor 2014). It is also ranked 2nd for th enumber of businesses per 10,000 population (Centre for Cities).