Economy, jobs and prices in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 43,900 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 114% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 113th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €29.6 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 346,380 people worked in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Dortmund?
In 2023, the city of Dortmund recorded an unemployment rate of 11.5%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 5th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 10.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Dortmund?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Dortmund was 9.6% in 2023, 18th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. It was 8.5% 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 Dortmund?
The share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Dortmund was 43.9% in 2023, 19th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 31.8%. In 2019 the figure was 39.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Dortmund?
In 2023, the city of Dortmund recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,858, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 98th highest of 400 districts. It was €3,508 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Dortmund?
At 92.5% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in the city of Dortmund ranked 108th highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). That is up from 89.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Dortmund?
At €28,131 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in the city of Dortmund ranked 106th lowest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). That is up from €22,458 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Dortmund?
At 17.4% in 2023, the share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Dortmund ranked 136th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 19.7%). That is down from 18.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Dortmund?
At +13.4 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Dortmund ranked 75th highest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). That is up from +12.4 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Dortmund?
In 2023, the city of Dortmund had 7.3 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 18th highest of 400 districts. That is down from 9.8 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was finance, property and business services, at 29.1% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (28.4%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Factories, mines and energy produced 14.5% of the value added in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €19.0 billion in 2015 to €27.0 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 42% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 346,380 jobs located in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 37% in public services, education, health and other services, 9% in industry and 0.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 11.4% between 2015 and 2023, to 346,380.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 5 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Bremerhaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.1% |
| 3 | Duisburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 12.8% |
| 4 | Pirmasens, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.5% |
| 5 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.5% |
| 6 | Hagen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.4% |
| 7 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.0% |
| 8 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.0% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 98 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | Karlsruhe, Landkreis | €3,869 |
| 96 | Passau, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,866 |
| 97 | Würzburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,859 |
| 98 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,858 |
| 99 | Ravensburg | €3,854 |
| 100 | Marburg-Biedenkopf | €3,852 |
| 101 | Wuppertal, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,851 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 295 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 292 | Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,153 |
| 293 | Worms, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,141 |
| 294 | Neunkirchen | €28,134 |
| 295 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,131 |
| 296 | Neustadt a. d. Waldnaab | €28,105 |
| 297 | Cham | €28,100 |
| 298 | Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge | €28,057 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 382 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 379 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 58.4% |
| 380 | Saarlouis | 58.3% |
| 381 | Wuppertal, Kreisfreie Stadt | 58.2% |
| 382 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | 58.0% |
| 383 | Bremen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 57.6% |
| 384 | Oberhausen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 57.5% |
| 385 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 57.4% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 358 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 355 | Freising | 14.8% |
| 356 | Wittmund | 14.7% |
| 357 | Weiden i. d. Opf, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.5% |
| 358 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.5% |
| 359 | Mainz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.5% |
| 360 | Plön | 14.3% |
| 361 | Vorpommern-Greifswald | 14.0% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 36 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Schwabach, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.4% |
| 34 | Kaiserslautern, Landkreis | 29.2% |
| 35 | Eichstätt | 29.2% |
| 36 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.1% |
| 37 | Leipzig, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.1% |
| 38 | Südwestpfalz | 29.0% |
| 39 | Plön | 28.8% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 103 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Euskirchen | 28.5% |
| 101 | Städteregion Aachen | 28.5% |
| 102 | Goslar | 28.4% |
| 103 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | 28.4% |
| 104 | Stendal | 28.4% |
| 105 | Wuppertal, Kreisfreie Stadt | 28.2% |
| 106 | Kusel | 28.2% |
More on Dortmund, 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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