There are currently around 375,500 people working across Manchester, increasing by 13% from 2013 to 2016. One of the largest employers in the city is advanced manufacturing, employing 114,000 people across subsectors such as software engineering, aerospace and transport. The city's commitment to low carbon means it is investing £8-10 billion in the energy industry, providing lucrative opportunities to businesses in the sector.

The creative, digital and technology sector is also thriving across Manchester. In 2016 it contributed £4.1 billion in GVA, with 1600 start ups in 2016, as well as market leaders such as AO.com, IBM, the BBC and Cisco. As the only UK city to have devolved authority over its healthcare budget - all £6 billion of it.