Economy, jobs and prices in Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 48,600 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 127% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 83rd highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €31.3 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 350,160 people worked in Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Essen?
The unemployment rate in the city of Essen was 10.6% in 2023, 10th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. In 2019 the figure was 10.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Essen?
In 2023, the city of Essen recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 10.1%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 12th highest of 400 districts. It was 9.0% 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 Essen?
At 42.7% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Essen ranked 26th highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). It was 40.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Essen?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in the city of Essen was €4,058 in 2023, 47th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. In 2019 the figure was €3,662.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Essen?
In 2023, the city of Essen recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 89.9%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 159th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 87.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Essen?
In 2023, the city of Essen recorded a purchasing power per resident of €29,981, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 156th highest of 400 districts. It was €24,069 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Essen?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Essen was 17.6% in 2023, 142nd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. In 2019 the figure was 19.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Essen?
At +18.9 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Essen ranked 66th highest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). In 2019 the figure was +17.6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Essen?
At 10.0 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in the city of Essen ranked 3rd highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). That is up from 8.3 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was finance, property and business services, at 31.6% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (25.3%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Essen, 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 Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €21.2 billion in 2015 to €28.6 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 35% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 350,160 jobs located in Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 36% in public services, education, health and other services, 8% in industry and 0.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 5.6% between 2015 and 2023, to 350,160.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 10 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.0% |
| 8 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.0% |
| 9 | Uckermark | 10.7% |
| 10 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.6% |
| 11 | Krefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.5% |
| 12 | Oberhausen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.4% |
| 13 | Delmenhorst, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.3% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 47 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Reutlingen | €4,100 |
| 45 | Coburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,090 |
| 46 | Augsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,068 |
| 47 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,058 |
| 48 | Weilheim-Schongau | €4,052 |
| 49 | Braunschweig, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,052 |
| 50 | Tübingen, Landkreis | €4,038 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 156 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 153 | Mayen-Koblenz | €30,084 |
| 154 | Coburg, Landkreis | €30,016 |
| 155 | Leverkusen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €29,989 |
| 156 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €29,981 |
| 157 | Limburg-Weilburg | €29,973 |
| 158 | Remscheid, Kreisfreie Stadt | €29,922 |
| 159 | Ahrweiler | €29,900 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 372 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 369 | Hagen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 59.2% |
| 370 | Kaiserslautern, Kreisfreie Stadt | 59.2% |
| 371 | Kleve | 59.1% |
| 372 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 59.0% |
| 373 | Regionalverband Saarbrücken | 59.0% |
| 374 | Mönchengladbach, Kreisfreie Stadt | 58.9% |
| 375 | Oldenburg (Oldenburg), Kreisfreie Stadt | 58.8% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 332 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 329 | Nürnberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.8% |
| 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% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 23 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Berlin | 31.8% |
| 21 | Düren | 31.7% |
| 22 | Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis | 31.7% |
| 23 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.6% |
| 24 | Dahme-Spreewald | 31.1% |
| 25 | Offenbach am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.0% |
| 26 | Nürnberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.7% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 151 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 148 | Calw | 25.3% |
| 149 | Havelland | 25.3% |
| 150 | Ahrweiler | 25.3% |
| 151 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 25.3% |
| 152 | Meißen | 25.2% |
| 153 | Gotha | 25.2% |
| 154 | Oberhavel | 25.2% |
More on Essen, 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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