Economy, jobs and prices in Essen, Germany: official figures

Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 3rd highest unemployment rate in 2023, at 10.6% (median of all 400 districts: 5.0%). In 2019 it was 10.2%.

More figures

• In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 66% of residents of Essen were satisfied with public transport. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
• In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 41% of residents of Essen agreed that it is easy to find a good job in the city. Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How Essen compares with other cities in Germany

Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities (2023)

Essen ranks 3 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages

Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) – large cities (2023)

Essen ranks 11 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro; kreisfreie Städte with city pages

Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities (2023)

Essen ranks 10 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro; kreisfreie Städte with city pages

Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities (2023)

Essen ranks 18 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: SV Beschäftigte am Wohnort je 100 Einwohner im erwerbsfähigen Alter in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages

Journeys to work by public transport (2016)

Essen ranks 34 of 77, highest first.

Cars per 1,000 residents (2023)

Essen ranks 30 of 77, highest first.

Tourist nights (2020)

Essen ranks 20 of 77, highest first.

More on Essen: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · 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_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
• Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)

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