Economy, jobs and prices in Bielefeld, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 9th highest unemployment rate in 2023, at 8.2% (median of all 400 districts: 5.0%). In 2019 it was 7.3%.
How high is youth unemployment in Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's unemployment rate among under-25s was 5.7% in 2023, 11th highest of 22 large German cities and 118th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 5.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer was 45.2% in 2023, the highest of 22 large German cities and 14th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 40.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 6th lowest median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in 2023, at €3,885 (median of all 400 districts: €3,604). In 2019 it was €3,500.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 9th highest median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in 2023, at 89.5% (median of all 400 districts: 88.5%). In 2019 it was 87.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 9th lowest purchasing power per resident in 2023, at €28,878 (median of all 400 districts: €29,371). In 2019 it was €23,459.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 5th highest share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in 2023, at 18.5% (median of all 400 districts: 19.7%). In 2019 it was 19.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) was +20.1 in 2023, 10th lowest of 22 large German cities and 62nd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was +18.7.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 8th highest number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in 2023, at 7.0 (median of all 400 districts: 3.9). In 2019 it was 6.8.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Bielefeld?
The unemployment rate in Bielefeld was 5.1% in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Bielefeld?
196,000 jobs were based in Bielefeld in 2024; the biggest employers were public administration, education and health (28% of jobs) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (19%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people commute to Bielefeld?
68,529 people commuted into Bielefeld for work in 2018 and 38,676 commuted out.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Bielefeld?
Tourist accommodation in Bielefeld recorded 318,599 nights in 2020, 18% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow do people get to work in Bielefeld?
In 2016, 19% of journeys to work in Bielefeld were by public transport, 65% by car, 7% by bicycle and 8% on foot.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Bielefeld?
There were 454 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bielefeld compares with other cities in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 9 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Berlin | 9.1% |
| 7 | Köln | 8.7% |
| 8 | Bochum | 8.6% |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 8.2% |
| 10 | Hamburg | 7.4% |
| 11 | Mannheim | 7.2% |
| 12 | Düsseldorf | 7.0% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 17 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Münster | €4,007 |
| 15 | Duisburg | €3,982 |
| 16 | Berlin | €3,982 |
| 17 | Bielefeld | €3,885 |
| 18 | Dortmund | €3,858 |
| 19 | Wuppertal | €3,851 |
| 20 | Bochum | €3,793 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 14 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Nürnberg | €29,662 |
| 12 | Wuppertal | €29,038 |
| 13 | Augsburg | €29,004 |
| 14 | Bielefeld | €28,878 |
| 15 | Bochum | €28,640 |
| 16 | Leipzig | €28,503 |
| 17 | Bremen | €28,361 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 12 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: SV Beschäftigte am Wohnort je 100 Einwohner im erwerbsfähigen Alter in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Frankfurt am Main | 63.6% |
| 10 | Köln | 63.1% |
| 11 | Mannheim | 62.8% |
| 12 | Bielefeld | 62.2% |
| 13 | Berlin | 61.2% |
| 14 | Münster | 60.4% |
| 15 | Bochum | 60.2% |
Journeys to work by public transport (2016)
Bielefeld ranks 37 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Journeys to work by public transport |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Essen | 19.9% |
| 35 | Pforzheim | 19.9% |
| 36 | Bergisch Gladbach | 19.8% |
| 37 | Bielefeld | 19.4% |
| 38 | Würzburg | 19.2% |
| 39 | Leverkusen | 18.4% |
| 40 | Trier | 18.0% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 25 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Herne | 463 |
| 23 | Heilbronn | 459 |
| 24 | Oldenburg | 455 |
| 25 | Bielefeld | 454 |
| 26 | Dortmund | 452 |
| 27 | Koblenz | 452 |
| 28 | Wolfsburg | 452 |
Tourist nights (2020)
Bielefeld ranks 38 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Augsburg | 419,089 |
| 36 | Wuppertal | 341,079 |
| 37 | Braunschweig | 336,814 |
| 38 | Bielefeld | 318,599 |
| 39 | Göttingen | 312,880 |
| 40 | Darmstadt | 305,655 |
| 41 | Saarbrücken | 299,482 |
More on Bielefeld: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung: INKAR – Indikatoren und Karten zur Raum- und Stadtentwicklung: 43 district (Kreise) indicators, 2012-2024 (table service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c743f54caf6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
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