Economy, jobs and prices in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 39,900 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 104% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 162nd highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €16.0 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 200,060 people worked in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Bochum?
At 8.6% in 2023, the unemployment rate in the city of Bochum ranked 33rd highest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). That is up from 8.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Bochum?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Bochum was 6.1% in 2023, 99th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. In 2019 the figure was 6.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Bochum?
At 41.2% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Bochum ranked 42nd highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). It was 38.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Bochum?
In 2023, the city of Bochum recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,793, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 114th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €3,449.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Bochum?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in the city of Bochum was 93.6% in 2023, 86th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. In 2019 the figure was 90.5%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Bochum?
In 2023, the city of Bochum recorded a purchasing power per resident of €28,640, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 146th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €22,783.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Bochum?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Bochum was 18.6% in 2023, 165th 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 Bochum?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Bochum was +4.8 in 2023, 101st highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. In 2019 the figure was +3.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Bochum?
In 2023, the city of Bochum had 7.8 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 14th highest of 400 districts. It was 9.9 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 34.6% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (26.7%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 13.5% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €11.0 billion in 2015 to €14.6 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 33% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 200,060 jobs located in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 43% in public services, education, health and other services, 10% in industry and 0.0% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 9.1% between 2015 and 2023, to 200,060.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 33 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Vorpommern-Greifswald | 8.8% |
| 31 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.7% |
| 32 | Kyffhäuserkreis | 8.7% |
| 33 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.6% |
| 34 | Dessau-Roßlau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.6% |
| 35 | Hamm, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.6% |
| 36 | Görlitz | 8.5% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 114 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 111 | Memmingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,801 |
| 112 | Traunstein | €3,800 |
| 113 | Ostallgäu | €3,795 |
| 114 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,793 |
| 115 | Lahn-Dill-Kreis | €3,792 |
| 116 | Zollernalbkreis | €3,791 |
| 117 | Ansbach, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,791 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 255 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 252 | Passau, Landkreis | €28,738 |
| 253 | Saarlouis | €28,700 |
| 254 | Weiden i. d. Opf, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,694 |
| 255 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,640 |
| 256 | Bernkastel-Wittlich | €28,632 |
| 257 | Rhön-Grabfeld | €28,628 |
| 258 | Osnabrück, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,588 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 352 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 349 | Tübingen, Landkreis | 60.3% |
| 350 | Weimar, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.3% |
| 351 | Schleswig-Flensburg | 60.3% |
| 352 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.2% |
| 353 | Heinsberg | 60.2% |
| 354 | Göttingen | 60.1% |
| 355 | Gießen, Landkreis | 60.1% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 369 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 366 | Hamburg | 13.9% |
| 367 | Offenbach, Landkreis | 13.8% |
| 368 | Hof, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.6% |
| 369 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.5% |
| 370 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | 13.0% |
| 371 | Erding | 12.3% |
| 372 | Potsdam-Mittelmark | 12.3% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 75 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Mannheim, Stadtkreis | 26.7% |
| 73 | Odenwaldkreis | 26.7% |
| 74 | Rottal-Inn | 26.7% |
| 75 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 26.7% |
| 76 | Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen | 26.7% |
| 77 | Region Hannover | 26.5% |
| 78 | Aichach-Friedberg | 26.5% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 33 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Vorpommern-Rügen | 34.9% |
| 31 | Landshut, Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.8% |
| 32 | Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.7% |
| 33 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.6% |
| 34 | Tübingen, Landkreis | 34.4% |
| 35 | Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.4% |
| 36 | Landau in der Pfalz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.3% |
More on Bochum, 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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