Economy, jobs and prices in Bremen, Germany: official figures
Bremen's unemployment rate was 10.0% in 2023, 4th highest of 22 large German cities and 14th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 9.5%.
How high is youth unemployment in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 6th highest unemployment rate among under-25s in 2023, at 7.8% (median of all 400 districts: 4.4%). In 2019 it was 8.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 8th highest share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in 2023, at 41.4% (median of all 400 districts: 31.8%). In 2019 it was 41.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 10th lowest median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in 2023, at €4,031 (median of all 400 districts: €3,604). In 2019 it was €3,666.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Bremen?
Bremen's median full-time wage of women as a share of men's was 85.4% in 2023, 8th lowest of 22 large German cities and 121st lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 81.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 6th lowest purchasing power per resident in 2023, at €28,361 (median of all 400 districts: €29,371). In 2019 it was €22,541.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Bremen?
Bremen's share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' was 16.7% in 2023, 9th highest of 22 large German cities and 120th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 17.4%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Bremen?
Bremen's commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) was +26.6 in 2023, 10th highest of 22 large German cities and 44th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was +25.7.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Bremen?
Bremen's number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses was 7.5 in 2023, 4th highest of 22 large German cities and 17th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 4.9.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Bremen?
The unemployment rate in Bremen was 5.9% in 2024 (5.8% for women, 6.6% for men).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Bremen?
344,000 jobs were based in Bremen in 2024; the biggest employers were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (26% of jobs) and industry and energy (19%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people commute to Bremen?
118,419 people commuted into Bremen for work in 2018 and 45,596 commuted out.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Bremen?
Tourist accommodation in Bremen recorded 1,206,886 nights in 2020, 13% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow do people get to work in Bremen?
In 2016, 23% of journeys to work in Bremen were by public transport, 47% by car, 21% by bicycle and 7% on foot.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Bremen?
There were 372 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bremen compares with other cities in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities (2023)
Bremen ranks 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duisburg | 12.8% |
| 2 | Dortmund | 11.5% |
| 3 | Essen | 10.6% |
| 4 | Bremen | 10.0% |
| 5 | Wuppertal | 9.5% |
| 6 | Berlin | 9.1% |
| 7 | Köln | 8.7% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) – large cities (2023)
Bremen ranks 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Augsburg | €4,068 |
| 11 | Essen | €4,058 |
| 12 | Nürnberg | €4,035 |
| 13 | Bremen | €4,031 |
| 14 | Münster | €4,007 |
| 15 | Duisburg | €3,982 |
| 16 | Berlin | €3,982 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities (2023)
Bremen ranks 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Bielefeld | €28,878 |
| 15 | Bochum | €28,640 |
| 16 | Leipzig | €28,503 |
| 17 | Bremen | €28,361 |
| 18 | Dortmund | €28,131 |
| 19 | Berlin | €27,823 |
| 20 | Mannheim | €27,660 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities (2023)
Bremen ranks 21 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Karlsruhe | 60.1% |
| 17 | Bonn | 59.3% |
| 18 | Essen | 59.0% |
| 19 | Wuppertal | 58.2% |
| 20 | Dortmund | 58.0% |
| 21 | Bremen | 57.6% |
| 22 | Duisburg | 56.2% |
Journeys to work by public transport (2016)
Bremen ranks 22 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Journeys to work by public transport |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Heidelberg | 24.1% |
| 20 | Augsburg | 24.0% |
| 21 | Karlsruhe | 23.6% |
| 22 | Bremen | 23.3% |
| 23 | Wiesbaden | 23.2% |
| 24 | Wuppertal | 23.1% |
| 25 | Mannheim | 22.9% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2023)
Bremen ranks 59 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Göttingen | 384 |
| 57 | Aachen | 382 |
| 58 | Kassel | 381 |
| 59 | Bremen | 372 |
| 60 | Darmstadt | 372 |
| 61 | Düsseldorf | 368 |
| 62 | Köln | 368 |
Tourist nights (2020)
Bremen ranks 13 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Lübeck | 1,572,499 |
| 11 | Rostock | 1,522,370 |
| 12 | Nürnberg | 1,501,994 |
| 13 | Bremen | 1,206,886 |
| 14 | Freiburg im Breisgau | 1,130,338 |
| 15 | Hannover | 999,654 |
| 16 | Potsdam | 877,185 |
More on Bremen: 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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