Economy, jobs and prices in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 48,500 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 126% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 84th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €18.1 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 222,640 people worked in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Bielefeld?
At 8.2% in 2023, the unemployment rate in the city of Bielefeld ranked 43rd highest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). 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 Bielefeld?
In 2023, the city of Bielefeld recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 5.7%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 118th highest of 400 districts. It was 5.9% 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 Bielefeld?
The share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Bielefeld was 45.2% in 2023, 14th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 31.8%. It was 40.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Bielefeld?
At €3,885 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in the city of Bielefeld ranked 88th highest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). That is up from €3,500 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Bielefeld?
At 89.5% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in the city of Bielefeld ranked 174th highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). That is up from 87.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Bielefeld?
In 2023, the city of Bielefeld recorded a purchasing power per resident of €28,878, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 158th lowest of 400 districts. It was €23,459 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Bielefeld?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Bielefeld was 18.5% in 2023, 164th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. In 2019 the figure was 19.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Bielefeld?
In 2023, the city of Bielefeld recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of +20.1, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 62nd highest of 400 districts. It was +18.7 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Bielefeld?
At 7.0 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in the city of Bielefeld ranked 23rd highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). In 2019 the figure was 6.8.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 32.3% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (24.8%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 16.4% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €11.8 billion in 2015 to €16.5 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 40% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 222,640 jobs located in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 40% in public services, education, health and other services, 13% in industry and 0.3% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 10.8% between 2015 and 2023, to 222,640.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 43 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Neumünster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.3% |
| 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% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 88 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Saarpfalz-Kreis | €3,893 |
| 86 | Amberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,891 |
| 87 | Städteregion Aachen | €3,889 |
| 88 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,885 |
| 89 | Rosenheim, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,885 |
| 90 | Aschaffenburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,884 |
| 91 | Jena, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,875 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 243 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 240 | Cochem-Zell | €28,922 |
| 241 | Vechta | €28,922 |
| 242 | Hameln-Pyrmont | €28,883 |
| 243 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,878 |
| 244 | Goslar | €28,865 |
| 245 | Groß-Gerau | €28,859 |
| 246 | Märkisch-Oderland | €28,856 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 319 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 316 | Viersen | 62.4% |
| 317 | Bad Kreuznach | 62.3% |
| 318 | Rhein-Sieg-Kreis | 62.2% |
| 319 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 62.2% |
| 320 | Hochtaunuskreis | 62.1% |
| 321 | Schwerin, Kreisfreie Stadt | 62.0% |
| 322 | Neumünster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 62.0% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 333 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 330 | Baden-Baden, Stadtkreis | 16.4% |
| 331 | Heidekreis | 16.4% |
| 332 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.4% |
| 333 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.4% |
| 334 | Berchtesgadener Land | 16.2% |
| 335 | Osterholz | 16.2% |
| 336 | Dachau | 16.2% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 110 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 107 | Südliche Weinstraße | 24.9% |
| 108 | Ravensburg | 24.9% |
| 109 | Regionalverband Saarbrücken | 24.9% |
| 110 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.8% |
| 111 | Oberhausen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.8% |
| 112 | Friesland (DE) | 24.7% |
| 113 | Schwalm-Eder-Kreis | 24.7% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 52 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Kyffhäuserkreis | 32.5% |
| 50 | Nordhausen | 32.4% |
| 51 | Cochem-Zell | 32.4% |
| 52 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.3% |
| 53 | Rostock, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.2% |
| 54 | Göttingen | 32.2% |
| 55 | Chemnitz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
More on Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · North Rhine-Westphalia · 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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