Economy, jobs and prices in Münster, Germany: official figures
Münster's unemployment rate was 4.9% in 2023, 3rd lowest of 22 large German cities and 196th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 4.6%.
How high is youth unemployment in Münster?
Among 22 large German cities, Münster had the 2nd lowest unemployment rate among under-25s in 2023, at 2.8% (median of all 400 districts: 4.4%). In 2019 it was 3.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Münster?
Among 22 large German cities, Münster had the 7th highest share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in 2023, at 41.8% (median of all 400 districts: 31.8%). In 2019 it was 38.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Münster?
Münster's median monthly gross wage of full-time employees was €4,007 in 2023, 9th lowest of 22 large German cities and 58th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was €3,632.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Münster?
Münster's median full-time wage of women as a share of men's was 87.8% in 2023, 11th highest of 22 large German cities and 183rd lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 88.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Münster?
Münster's purchasing power per resident was €31,380 in 2023, 6th highest of 22 large German cities and 66th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was €25,529.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Münster?
Münster's share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' was 20.1% in 2023, the highest of 22 large German cities and 178th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 19.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Münster?
Among 22 large German cities, Münster had the 6th highest commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in 2023, at +31.7 (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 Münster?
Münster's number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses was 5.4 in 2023, 8th lowest of 22 large German cities and 74th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 5.7.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Münster?
The unemployment rate in Münster was 3.9% in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Münster?
226,000 jobs were based in Münster in 2024; the biggest employers were public administration, education and health (31% of jobs) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (16%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people commute to Münster?
82,826 people commuted into Münster for work in 2018 and 31,277 commuted out.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Münster?
Tourist accommodation in Münster recorded 712,673 nights in 2020, 6% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow do people get to work in Münster?
In 2016, 12% of journeys to work in Münster were by public transport, 45% by car, 37% by bicycle and 6% on foot.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Münster?
There were 419 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Münster compares with other cities in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities (2023)
Münster ranks 20 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)
Münster ranks 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Essen | €4,058 |
| 12 | Nürnberg | €4,035 |
| 13 | Bremen | €4,031 |
| 14 | Münster | €4,007 |
| 15 | Duisburg | €3,982 |
| 16 | Berlin | €3,982 |
| 17 | Bielefeld | €3,885 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities (2023)
Münster ranks 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Stuttgart | €32,874 |
| 4 | Frankfurt am Main | €32,742 |
| 5 | Bonn | €32,325 |
| 6 | Münster | €31,380 |
| 7 | Köln | €31,167 |
| 8 | Hamburg | €31,146 |
| 9 | Karlsruhe | €30,439 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities (2023)
Münster ranks 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Mannheim | 62.8% |
| 12 | Bielefeld | 62.2% |
| 13 | Berlin | 61.2% |
| 14 | Münster | 60.4% |
| 15 | Bochum | 60.2% |
| 16 | Karlsruhe | 60.1% |
| 17 | Bonn | 59.3% |
Journeys to work by public transport (2016)
Münster ranks 69 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Journeys to work by public transport |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Erlangen | 13.3% |
| 67 | Osnabrück | 12.9% |
| 68 | Oberhausen | 12.5% |
| 69 | Münster | 11.8% |
| 70 | Ingolstadt | 11.4% |
| 71 | Recklinghausen | 10.9% |
| 72 | Paderborn | 10.3% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2023)
Münster ranks 43 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein | 422 |
| 41 | Erlangen | 422 |
| 42 | Trier | 420 |
| 43 | Münster | 419 |
| 44 | Lübeck | 411 |
| 45 | Würzburg | 409 |
| 46 | Magdeburg | 408 |
Tourist nights (2020)
Münster ranks 21 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Heidelberg | 790,503 |
| 19 | Bonn | 765,482 |
| 20 | Essen | 732,762 |
| 21 | Münster | 712,673 |
| 22 | Dortmund | 673,061 |
| 23 | Wiesbaden | 654,564 |
| 24 | Regensburg | 598,647 |
More on Münster: 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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