Economy, jobs and prices in Bochum, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 8th highest unemployment rate in 2023, at 8.6% (median of all 400 districts: 5.0%). In 2019 it was 8.5%.
How high is youth unemployment in Bochum?
Bochum's unemployment rate among under-25s was 6.1% in 2023, 8th highest of 22 large German cities and 99th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 6.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 10th highest share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in 2023, at 41.2% (median of all 400 districts: 31.8%). In 2019 it was 38.4%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Bochum?
Bochum's median monthly gross wage of full-time employees was €3,793 in 2023, 3rd lowest of 22 large German cities and 114th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was €3,449.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 4th highest median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in 2023, at 93.6% (median of all 400 districts: 88.5%). In 2019 it was 90.5%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 8th lowest purchasing power per resident in 2023, at €28,640 (median of all 400 districts: €29,371). In 2019 it was €22,783.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 4th highest share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in 2023, at 18.6% (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 Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 4th lowest commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in 2023, at +4.8 (median of all 400 districts: -11.7). In 2019 it was +3.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Bochum?
Bochum's number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses was 7.8 in 2023, 3rd highest of 22 large German cities and 14th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 9.9.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Bochum?
The unemployment rate in Bochum was 6.5% in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Bochum?
183,000 jobs were based in Bochum in 2024; the biggest employers were public administration, education and health (27% of jobs) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (22%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people commute to Bochum?
66,724 people commuted into Bochum for work in 2018 and 64,010 commuted out.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Bochum?
Tourist accommodation in Bochum recorded 267,084 nights in 2020, 11% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow do people get to work in Bochum?
In 2016, 21% of journeys to work in Bochum were by public transport, 68% by car, 2% by bicycle and 7% on foot.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Bochum?
There were 469 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bochum compares with other cities in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities (2023)
Bochum ranks 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Wuppertal | 9.5% |
| 6 | Berlin | 9.1% |
| 7 | Köln | 8.7% |
| 8 | Bochum | 8.6% |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 8.2% |
| 10 | Hamburg | 7.4% |
| 11 | Mannheim | 7.2% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) – large cities (2023)
Bochum ranks 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Berlin | €3,982 |
| 17 | Bielefeld | €3,885 |
| 18 | Dortmund | €3,858 |
| 19 | Wuppertal | €3,851 |
| 20 | Bochum | €3,793 |
| 21 | Dresden | €3,689 |
| 22 | Leipzig | €2,994 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities (2023)
Bochum ranks 15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Wuppertal | €29,038 |
| 13 | Augsburg | €29,004 |
| 14 | Bielefeld | €28,878 |
| 15 | Bochum | €28,640 |
| 16 | Leipzig | €28,503 |
| 17 | Bremen | €28,361 |
| 18 | Dortmund | €28,131 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities (2023)
Bochum ranks 15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Bielefeld | 62.2% |
| 13 | Berlin | 61.2% |
| 14 | Münster | 60.4% |
| 15 | Bochum | 60.2% |
| 16 | Karlsruhe | 60.1% |
| 17 | Bonn | 59.3% |
| 18 | Essen | 59.0% |
Journeys to work by public transport (2016)
Bochum ranks 32 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Journeys to work by public transport |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Aachen | 21.9% |
| 30 | Fürth | 21.6% |
| 31 | Erfurt | 21.4% |
| 32 | Bochum | 20.8% |
| 33 | Magdeburg | 20.1% |
| 34 | Essen | 19.9% |
| 35 | Pforzheim | 19.9% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2023)
Bochum ranks 20 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Leverkusen | 481 |
| 18 | Mönchengladbach | 476 |
| 19 | Krefeld | 474 |
| 20 | Bochum | 469 |
| 21 | Ingolstadt | 465 |
| 22 | Herne | 463 |
| 23 | Heilbronn | 459 |
Tourist nights (2020)
Bochum ranks 50 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein | 274,621 |
| 48 | Offenbach am Main | 271,264 |
| 49 | Oldenburg | 267,437 |
| 50 | Bochum | 267,084 |
| 51 | Wolfsburg | 253,546 |
| 52 | Osnabrück | 247,519 |
| 53 | Erlangen | 220,921 |
More on Bochum: 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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