To want to move to the UK? And if not, what part to move to?

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I am needing a little help at the moment trying to decide what to do. We are from Ireland, but really want/need a change. We don't have jobs where we can work remotely, we don't have a particularly "saught after" skillset etc but we think England may be a good choice for us, not "too" far. We absolutely love the English countryside, we find the people so friendly and helpful, we have never lived in England but have visited and always found there was so much more "on" for families etc.
We are also very unsure of where to look to move too? Somewhere relatively "safe" and "affordable" in today's standards, we absolutely love the outdoors and the sea but somewhere near the sea may be totally out of budget, we love the countryside but not sure if that would limit work opportunities?
Any information or tips would be so greatly appreciated.

Background info : married couple, in late 30's, moving towards early 40's, we will have 1 dc by the time we make the move (planning late 2026 for the move) we do not own our home, we are renting in Ireland (more by choice as we do have a deposit and mortgage approval but houses are so overpriced in Ireland and we don't feel "settled" here so buying seemed stupid unless we wanted to stay here for sure)

I work in disability suppport which is called "social care" here in Ireland, I have a Bachelor degree in social care but from what I've read I understand in England this may not be recognised quite the same, in Ireland I earn €40,000-€50,000 per year so that's roughly £33700-£42000 but from what I can see online I would only be earning £32000 per year in England in this line of work

My husband works in construction mainly driving diggers (excavators) and that line of work, he is pretty well paid at roughly €48,000 per year in Ireland. He has looked up work in England and a lot of it seems like short term work where maybe there is a job local for a couple of weeks/months and then you are out of work again (or maybe that is just how it is advertised) he would prefer a job where he could be home every evening so he wouldn't mind a change in sector, hes very hardworking and the type who can throw his hand to anything really, in terms of yearly salary its looking like about £35000 for him.

We would have about £60,000 in savings moving over which we would use to eventually put a deposit on a house.

So all in all we would have a combined salary of roughly £67,000 and we would need full time childcare for 1 young child, and to rent a 2 bed flat, probably need 2 cars, and we would like to get a yearly holiday in...

Is this do-able? Or are we totally mad? We need a change so desperately, we love so much about Ireland but it is wearing us down and sometimes a fresh start is needed. It looks like we would be taking a big hit in salary but the cost of living seems a lot cheaper in England.

I appreciate your post thank you! Its given a lot to think about. What would be a "liveable" wage in the UK for a family? Where you would be able to purchase a home, have 2 cars (likely necessary in both our line of work) and not struggle to pay bills/groceries? We don't need a lavish lifestyle but enjoy a holiday even a cheap sun hol and gym membership.
We do qualify for visas in Australia my job is very much in demand there, but that's the thing the visas are temporary to start with for likely 3 years minimum so you have no rights to anything really for those 3 years...which would be fine but childcare when on a temp visa is $3000 a month minimum for a middle of the road center (we've priced around) Visas alone in the first 5 years for sponsorship and then PR for our family would be up on €30,000. We did live in Australia before and to be honest it has a lot of the same issues as Ireland & the UK. I

One thing Ive noticed from moving from Ireland to England.

Salaries are a lot better in Ireland. While groceries and meals out etc are similiarly expensive in both countries.

Rent is cheaper in England.

Because it is

Absolutely.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-travel-area-guidance

I don't think it is. I have lived in both countries. Salaries are much higher in republic of Ireland.

Op I would say aswell just be aware of the employment situation.

If you are coming, get a job before you come. Dont come and then look for a job.

All i hear from people here in England, is how hard it is for them to find a job

Have you thought of Wales? Local authorities are calling out for workers in social care and the cost of living and standard of living are better the further west you go. You can see Ireland from the west coast on a clear day!

Absolutely agree with the comments about construction salaries. DH works in the area but not on site work. Hourly rates are far higher than you quote.

Sometimes, I think the hardest decision we have to make as adults is where to live.

Im irish. I have an English mother and Irish dad. Im constantly thinking should I move back to Ireland , if i dont do it next year it will be too late and too difficult.

Should I stay in England. Should I stay in the city i am in in england. Should i move city. Should I even move to Italy for a year! I always wanted to live there. If I don't do it now, I will be too old. I think about it a lot

We don't really know what is the best thing to do a lot of the time

There are cheaper parts of the UK, but jobs in these areas don't pay well and are few and far between. While property prices are lower, you would struggle to earn enough to purchase a home and to pay bills and groceries as well as have two cars, a holiday and gym membership. Schools could also be a concern.

You will also have to pay council tax in the UK, and this is could be in excess of £2,000 a year. This will seem like a huge amount when you are on a much lower wage.

I moved from Ireland to England. For a change. I like my job.

But overall I have been unhappy here, as I find the people in my city to very unfriendly.

I am in Southern England where people are stereotypically meant to be unfriendly.

Id advise you to go to the North of England or Wales. People are friendlier there

Agree. I am northern Irish, living in the south east (London). I’ve lived in England since I came to university here in 1999.

In general, the people are reserved, bordering on unfriendly (in comparison with people back home) and the driving and parking displays breathtaking displays of poor manners. English society is also still quite nuanced: it takes some adjusting to.

I married a Scot: we have similar “Celt” senses of humour and both notice these things about the English. Office life is a total minefield too, as people so rarely say what they actually mean.

OP, would you not try to relocate to Dublin suburbs ? Much of what you want is in Dublin and you would still have the good salaries you are earning now .
I know property is crazy here but you should definitely be able to afford a nice apartment in the suburbs and have every service you want !

Yes a lot of the English people that I have met here have been extremely cold, rude and nasty. The culture in Southern England is not friendly at all.

I like my job and the geographical area that I am in, but it is the unfriendliness and coldness of people - that will make me leave next year probably.

I have never met people so cold and rude in my life, as I have in Southern England.

New Mills is a very rural and beautiful town and nestled amongst the pennines of the Peak District.

The people are kind and friendly.

Lots of walks there too.

Common Travel Area

This - the col is horrendous,.NHS not existent, rents exorbitant all the young people l know want to escape.

Your not going to get anywhere near as good wages as your on at the moment.

Especially a digger driver. Your husband would need his cpc. If he doesnt want to move about it would be quarry work that comes in around 25k in northern ireland. Not sure if mainland would be much better.

Have you looked at Northern Ireland. You can get quite cheap housing, countey feel and only be less than 10 miles outside of belfast.

On healthcare front I would fact in private healthcare insurance at £200 ish a month

I am really sorry that you've experienced this. I'm in the UK for over ten years, South East and the vast majority of English people I've met are lovely, in fact a large amount of them are of Irish heritage.
It's not the same as the Irish friendliness of course but I have had people be especially kind to me, particularly touching at some points eg when I've been lost, tripped over , when small kids have had a tantrum.

Have you considered Lincolnshire?

Massive county, could live in the city of Lincoln or further afield and still be in reach of the city if you wish.

If you can’t drive, you’ll need to be a bit more selective for public transport reasons, but I live in a very nice village between Lincoln and Sleaford that has a train service between Lincoln and Peterborough, so we’re not completely desolate!!

House prices are pretty favourable to the national average.

And I work for the county council as a Business Support Assistant to Children’s and Adult Social Care. ALWAYS needing qualified SW’s, etc.

https://niscc.info/who-can-register/qualified-social-workers/

See if your eligible to register

Lincolnshire is very affordable - some beautiful countryside in the south, and good access to major roads/routes for work.

Different for Ireland 🇮🇪 there's always been a 2 way agreement.

Check out Whitehaven & Maryport - NW Lakes.

Your budget could buy a gorgeous house by the sea here with the Lake District on your doorstep, there’s a massive shortage of tradesmen due to Sellafield (very highly paid) taking all the decent trades people.

We moved here 3 yrs ago from down south and love it. Such a great way of life.

Could he work at Sellafield, which requires all sorts of jobs, doesn't need to have experience of 'nuclear', it's basically an enormous construction and demolition site.

However, everyone who works there needs to be security cleared, which could be an issue for someone from overseas, not necessarily a barrier, can just take more time.