Economy, jobs and prices in Gütersloh (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 52,700 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 137% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 62nd highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Gütersloh?
The local economy produced €21.5 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Gütersloh?
About 234,330 people worked in Gütersloh in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Gütersloh?
In 2023, Gütersloh recorded an unemployment rate of 4.4%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 165th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 4.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Gütersloh?
In 2023, Gütersloh recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 3.5%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 138th lowest of 400 districts. It was 3.3% 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 Gütersloh?
In 2023, Gütersloh recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 37.1%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 97th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 31.0% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Gütersloh?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Gütersloh was €3,705 in 2023, 145th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. That is up from €3,293 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Gütersloh?
At 84.7% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Gütersloh ranked 101st lowest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). That is up from 81.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Gütersloh?
At €30,311 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in Gütersloh ranked 139th highest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). It was €24,506 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Gütersloh?
At 17.8% in 2023, the share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Gütersloh ranked 146th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 19.7%). It was 18.6% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Gütersloh?
At +10.7 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Gütersloh ranked 82nd highest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). It was +12.7 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Gütersloh?
At 4.9 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Gütersloh ranked 106th highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). In 2019 the figure was 5.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Gütersloh?
The largest part of the economy of Gütersloh in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 41.6% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (20.0%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Gütersloh?
Factories, mines and energy produced 41.6% of the value added in Gütersloh in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Gütersloh growing?
Gross value added rose from €13.7 billion in 2015 to €19.6 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 43% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Gütersloh?
Of the 234,330 jobs located in Gütersloh in 2023, 21% in public services, education, health and other services, 34% in industry and 1.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Gütersloh?
The number of people working in Gütersloh rose by 8.7% between 2015 and 2023, to 234,330.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Gütersloh compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Gütersloh ranks 236 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 233 | Harburg | 4.5% |
| 234 | München, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.5% |
| 235 | Kassel, Landkreis | 4.4% |
| 236 | Gütersloh | 4.4% |
| 237 | Göppingen | 4.4% |
| 238 | Rosenheim, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.4% |
| 239 | Merzig-Wadern | 4.4% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Gütersloh ranks 145 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 142 | Main-Kinzig-Kreis | €3,716 |
| 143 | Forchheim | €3,709 |
| 144 | Lippe | €3,706 |
| 145 | Gütersloh | €3,705 |
| 146 | Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis | €3,704 |
| 147 | Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis | €3,703 |
| 148 | Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis | €3,701 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Gütersloh ranks 139 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 136 | Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Kreisfreie Stadt | €30,341 |
| 137 | Helmstedt | €30,322 |
| 138 | Soest | €30,318 |
| 139 | Gütersloh | €30,311 |
| 140 | Konstanz | €30,303 |
| 141 | Schwäbisch Hall | €30,281 |
| 142 | Donau-Ries | €30,271 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Gütersloh ranks 33 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Börde | 70.9% |
| 31 | Fürth, Landkreis | 70.8% |
| 32 | Kitzingen | 70.7% |
| 33 | Gütersloh | 70.7% |
| 34 | Schwäbisch Hall | 70.7% |
| 35 | Rastatt | 70.7% |
| 36 | Wittenberg | 70.6% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Gütersloh ranks 33 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Saarlouis | 41.7% |
| 31 | Enzkreis | 41.6% |
| 32 | Neustadt a. d. Waldnaab | 41.6% |
| 33 | Gütersloh | 41.6% |
| 34 | Amberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 41.5% |
| 35 | Hohenlohekreis | 41.5% |
| 36 | Landshut, Landkreis | 41.5% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Gütersloh ranks 309 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 306 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 19.1% |
| 307 | Trier, Kreisfreie Stadt | 19.1% |
| 308 | Weilheim-Schongau | 19.1% |
| 309 | Gütersloh | 19.0% |
| 310 | Landkreis Rostock | 19.0% |
| 311 | Rastatt | 18.9% |
| 312 | Nienburg (Weser) | 18.9% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Gütersloh ranks 383 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 380 | Tirschenreuth | 13.7% |
| 381 | Donau-Ries | 13.6% |
| 382 | Hochtaunuskreis | 13.5% |
| 383 | Gütersloh | 13.1% |
| 384 | Biberach | 12.7% |
| 385 | Ludwigsburg | 12.7% |
| 386 | Unterallgäu | 12.7% |
More on Gütersloh: 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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