Economy, jobs and prices in Karlsruhe, Germany: official figures
Karlsruhe's unemployment rate was 4.6% in 2023, 2nd lowest of 22 large German cities and 176th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 3.9%.
How high is youth unemployment in Karlsruhe?
Karlsruhe's unemployment rate among under-25s was 3.3% in 2023, 4th lowest of 22 large German cities and 127th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 2.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Karlsruhe?
Among 22 large German cities, Karlsruhe had the 4th lowest share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in 2023, at 28.9% (median of all 400 districts: 31.8%). In 2019 it was 24.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Karlsruhe?
Karlsruhe's median monthly gross wage of full-time employees was €4,384 in 2023, 7th highest of 22 large German cities and 24th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was €3,913.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Karlsruhe?
Among 22 large German cities, Karlsruhe had the 5th lowest median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in 2023, at 84.4% (median of all 400 districts: 88.5%). In 2019 it was 83.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Karlsruhe?
Karlsruhe's purchasing power per resident was €30,439 in 2023, 9th highest of 22 large German cities and 123rd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was €24,595.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Karlsruhe?
Karlsruhe's share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' was 15.2% in 2023, 9th lowest of 22 large German cities and 90th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 16.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Karlsruhe?
Among 22 large German cities, Karlsruhe had the 5th highest commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in 2023, at +32.3 (median of all 400 districts: -11.7). In 2019 it was +30.5.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Karlsruhe?
Among 22 large German cities, Karlsruhe had the 6th lowest number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in 2023, at 5.1 (median of all 400 districts: 3.9). In 2019 it was 3.6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Karlsruhe?
The unemployment rate in Karlsruhe was 4.4% in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Karlsruhe?
244,000 jobs were based in Karlsruhe in 2024; the biggest employers were public administration, education and health (25% of jobs) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (18%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people commute to Karlsruhe?
102,397 people commuted into Karlsruhe for work in 2018 and 46,865 commuted out.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Karlsruhe?
Tourist accommodation in Karlsruhe recorded 559,658 nights in 2020, 15% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow do people get to work in Karlsruhe?
In 2016, 24% of journeys to work in Karlsruhe were by public transport, 45% by car, 22% by bicycle and 8% on foot.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Karlsruhe?
There were 368 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Karlsruhe compares with other cities in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities (2023)
Karlsruhe ranks 21 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Frankfurt am Main | 5.9% |
| 17 | Leipzig | 5.6% |
| 18 | Augsburg | 5.5% |
| 19 | Stuttgart | 5.1% |
| 20 | Münster | 4.9% |
| 21 | Karlsruhe | 4.6% |
| 22 | München | 4.5% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) – large cities (2023)
Karlsruhe ranks 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Bonn | €4,549 |
| 5 | Düsseldorf | €4,528 |
| 6 | Mannheim | €4,413 |
| 7 | Karlsruhe | €4,384 |
| 8 | Hamburg | €4,304 |
| 9 | Köln | €4,283 |
| 10 | Augsburg | €4,068 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities (2023)
Karlsruhe ranks 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Münster | €31,380 |
| 7 | Köln | €31,167 |
| 8 | Hamburg | €31,146 |
| 9 | Karlsruhe | €30,439 |
| 10 | Essen | €29,981 |
| 11 | Nürnberg | €29,662 |
| 12 | Wuppertal | €29,038 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities (2023)
Karlsruhe ranks 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Berlin | 61.2% |
| 14 | Münster | 60.4% |
| 15 | Bochum | 60.2% |
| 16 | Karlsruhe | 60.1% |
| 17 | Bonn | 59.3% |
| 18 | Essen | 59.0% |
| 19 | Wuppertal | 58.2% |
Journeys to work by public transport (2016)
Karlsruhe ranks 21 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Journeys to work by public transport |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Darmstadt | 24.1% |
| 19 | Heidelberg | 24.1% |
| 20 | Augsburg | 24.0% |
| 21 | Karlsruhe | 23.6% |
| 22 | Bremen | 23.3% |
| 23 | Wiesbaden | 23.2% |
| 24 | Wuppertal | 23.1% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2023)
Karlsruhe ranks 63 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Darmstadt | 372 |
| 61 | Düsseldorf | 368 |
| 62 | Köln | 368 |
| 63 | Karlsruhe | 368 |
| 64 | Potsdam | 367 |
| 65 | Rostock | 367 |
| 66 | Offenbach am Main | 365 |
Tourist nights (2020)
Karlsruhe ranks 26 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Wiesbaden | 654,564 |
| 24 | Regensburg | 598,647 |
| 25 | Kiel | 567,514 |
| 26 | Karlsruhe | 559,658 |
| 27 | Kassel | 506,159 |
| 28 | Trier | 490,478 |
| 29 | Aachen | 481,033 |
More on Karlsruhe: 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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