This factsheet compares Hull to the five most similar cities European cities by size and industrial structure. These are: Bochum (Germany), Bielefeld (Germany), Mulhouse (France), Szczecin (Poland), and Valladolid (Spain).

Comparing cities in this way helps us to understand more about how well UK cities are competing on an international scale because it groups cities with similar industrial structures, rather than on their resulting economic performance. The factsheet also compares the relative strengths and weaknesses of Hull to its European counterparts on variables such as skills, employment and productivity.

City group characteristics

Hull is a medium-sized city with a balance of public services and private services.

Population

Industrial structure

Key

• Manufacturing, mining and utilities 2011
• Business services 2011
• Public services 2011
• Other private services 2011
• Other sectors 2011

Overall economic performance

Hull tends to perform better than one or two cities in its group. It ranks in the middle of both the group and of all European cities analysed on both jobs and patents.