Economy, jobs and prices in Esslingen (Baden-Württemberg, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 47,200 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 123% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 88th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Esslingen?
The local economy produced €28.3 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Esslingen?
About 285,080 people worked in Esslingen in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Esslingen?
In 2023, Esslingen recorded an unemployment rate of 3.8%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 112th lowest of 400 districts. It was 3.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Esslingen?
At 3.0% in 2023, the unemployment rate among under-25s in Esslingen ranked 103rd lowest of 400 German districts (district median 4.4%). That is up from 2.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Esslingen?
In 2023, Esslingen recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 29.3%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 159th lowest of 400 districts. That is up from 26.7% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Esslingen?
In 2023, Esslingen recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €4,340, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 26th highest of 400 districts. It was €3,974 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Esslingen?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Esslingen was 80.1% in 2023, 23rd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. That is up from 76.6% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Esslingen?
At €32,632 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in Esslingen ranked 28th highest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). That is up from €26,206 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Esslingen?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Esslingen was 19.9% in 2023, 193rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. That is down from 20.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Esslingen?
At -4.9 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Esslingen ranked 157th highest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). In 2019 the figure was -4.6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Esslingen?
At 4.1 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Esslingen ranked 180th highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). That is up from 3.7 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Esslingen?
The largest part of the economy of Esslingen in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 34.0% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (24.5%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Esslingen?
Factories, mines and energy produced 34.0% of the value added in Esslingen in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Esslingen growing?
Gross value added rose from €19.3 billion in 2015 to €25.9 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 34% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Esslingen?
Of the 285,080 jobs located in Esslingen in 2023, 24% in public services, education, health and other services, 25% in industry and 0.6% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Esslingen?
The number of people working in Esslingen rose by 4.1% between 2015 and 2023, to 285,080.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Esslingen compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Esslingen ranks 289 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 286 | Rotenburg (Wümme) | 3.8% |
| 287 | Rastatt | 3.8% |
| 288 | Lichtenfels | 3.8% |
| 289 | Esslingen | 3.8% |
| 290 | Würzburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 3.7% |
| 291 | Vechta | 3.7% |
| 292 | Memmingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 3.7% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Esslingen ranks 26 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Leverkusen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,401 |
| 24 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | €4,384 |
| 25 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | €4,365 |
| 26 | Esslingen | €4,340 |
| 27 | Biberach | €4,336 |
| 28 | Ludwigsburg | €4,306 |
| 29 | Hamburg | €4,304 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Esslingen ranks 28 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Stuttgart, Stadtkreis | €32,874 |
| 26 | Erding | €32,822 |
| 27 | Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt | €32,742 |
| 28 | Esslingen | €32,632 |
| 29 | Mettmann | €32,456 |
| 30 | Rems-Murr-Kreis | €32,360 |
| 31 | Mülheim an der Ruhr, Kreisfreie Stadt | €32,359 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Esslingen ranks 128 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: SV Beschäftigte am Wohnort je 100 Einwohner im erwerbsfähigen Alter in %
| Rank | Area | Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Fürth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 68.3% |
| 126 | Heidenheim | 68.3% |
| 127 | Südwestpfalz | 68.3% |
| 128 | Esslingen | 68.2% |
| 129 | Verden | 68.2% |
| 130 | Rosenheim, Landkreis | 68.2% |
| 131 | Oberspreewald-Lausitz | 68.1% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Esslingen ranks 88 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Wunsiedel i. Fichtelgebirge | 34.3% |
| 86 | Hildburghausen | 34.2% |
| 87 | Lahn-Dill-Kreis | 34.0% |
| 88 | Esslingen | 34.0% |
| 89 | Emsland | 33.9% |
| 90 | Saarpfalz-Kreis | 33.8% |
| 91 | Main-Tauber-Kreis | 33.7% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Esslingen ranks 118 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 115 | Hameln-Pyrmont | 24.6% |
| 116 | Landshut, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.6% |
| 117 | Nürnberger Land | 24.6% |
| 118 | Esslingen | 24.5% |
| 119 | Kronach | 24.5% |
| 120 | Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.5% |
| 121 | Rems-Murr-Kreis | 24.5% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Esslingen ranks 374 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 371 | Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.4% |
| 372 | Bodenseekreis | 14.3% |
| 373 | Freising | 14.2% |
| 374 | Esslingen | 14.1% |
| 375 | Erlangen-Höchstadt | 14.0% |
| 376 | Offenbach, Landkreis | 14.0% |
| 377 | Spree-Neiße | 14.0% |
More on Esslingen: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Baden-Württemberg · Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- 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…)
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