Economy, jobs and prices in Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt (Hesse, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 60,000 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 156% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 46th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €13.3 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 156,580 people worked in Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Kassel?
In 2023, the city of Kassel recorded an unemployment rate of 8.2%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 44th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 7.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Kassel?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Kassel was 5.7% in 2023, 118th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. In 2019 the figure was 6.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Kassel?
In 2023, the city of Kassel recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 31.2%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 187th lowest of 400 districts. It was 28.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Kassel?
In 2023, the city of Kassel recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,960, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 70th highest of 400 districts. It was €3,607 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Kassel?
In 2023, the city of Kassel recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 89.8%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 168th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 85.5%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Kassel?
In 2023, the city of Kassel recorded a purchasing power per resident of €27,213, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 58th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €21,967.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Kassel?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Kassel was 17.1% in 2023, 127th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. That is down from 18.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Kassel?
In 2023, the city of Kassel recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of +32.1, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 31st highest of 400 districts. That is down from +33.9 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Kassel?
In 2023, the city of Kassel had 4.7 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 136th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 5.7.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 31.7% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (24.4%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 21.9% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €8.9 billion in 2015 to €12.1 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 35% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 156,580 jobs located in Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 41% in public services, education, health and other services, 13% in industry and 0.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 4.5% between 2015 and 2023, to 156,580.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 44 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Nordhausen | 8.3% |
| 42 | Altenburger Land | 8.3% |
| 43 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.2% |
| 44 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.2% |
| 45 | Mülheim an der Ruhr, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.1% |
| 46 | Recklinghausen | 8.1% |
| 47 | Frankfurt (Oder), Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.1% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 70 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Wesermarsch | €3,972 |
| 68 | Göppingen | €3,963 |
| 69 | Mettmann | €3,962 |
| 70 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,960 |
| 71 | Region Hannover | €3,944 |
| 72 | Koblenz, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,938 |
| 73 | Rhein-Kreis Neuss | €3,924 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 343 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 340 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,255 |
| 341 | Chemnitz, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,237 |
| 342 | Emden, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,218 |
| 343 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,213 |
| 344 | Anhalt-Bitterfeld | €27,210 |
| 345 | Magdeburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,207 |
| 346 | Weimar, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,201 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 361 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 358 | Bayreuth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.0% |
| 359 | Koblenz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.0% |
| 360 | Passau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 59.9% |
| 361 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 59.9% |
| 362 | Berchtesgadener Land | 59.8% |
| 363 | Konstanz | 59.5% |
| 364 | Bottrop, Kreisfreie Stadt | 59.5% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 259 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 256 | Rhein-Lahn-Kreis | 22.0% |
| 257 | Coburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.0% |
| 258 | Starnberg | 22.0% |
| 259 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.9% |
| 260 | Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis | 21.9% |
| 261 | Pinneberg | 21.8% |
| 262 | Alzey-Worms | 21.8% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 123 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.5% |
| 121 | Rems-Murr-Kreis | 24.5% |
| 122 | Weimar, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.5% |
| 123 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.4% |
| 124 | Kempten (Allgäu), Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.4% |
| 125 | Rosenheim, Landkreis | 24.4% |
| 126 | Osnabrück, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.4% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 58 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Chemnitz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 56 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 57 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 58 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.7% |
| 59 | Heidekreis | 31.7% |
| 60 | Celle | 31.6% |
| 61 | Mecklenburgische Seenplatte | 31.5% |
More on Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Hesse · 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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