Economy, jobs and prices in Herford (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 35,500 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 92% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 227th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Herford?
The local economy produced €10.2 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Herford?
About 126,830 people worked in Herford in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Herford?
At 5.7% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Herford ranked 147th highest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). It was 5.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Herford?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in Herford was 5.0% in 2023, 165th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. That is up from 4.7% 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 Herford?
In 2023, Herford recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 34.1%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 157th highest of 400 districts. It was also 34.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Herford?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Herford was €3,551 in 2023, 182nd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. It was €3,202 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Herford?
At 90.8% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Herford ranked 136th highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). It was 85.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Herford?
In 2023, Herford recorded a purchasing power per resident of €30,418, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 125th highest of 400 districts. That is up from €24,264 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Herford?
In 2023, Herford recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 18.2%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 158th lowest of 400 districts. It was 18.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Herford?
In 2023, Herford recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of -9.9, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 191st highest of 400 districts. It was -7.2 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Herford?
In 2023, Herford had 8.2 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 11th highest of 400 districts. It was 7.8 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Herford?
The largest part of the economy of Herford in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 32.8% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (21.1%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Herford?
Factories, mines and energy produced 32.8% of the value added in Herford in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Herford growing?
Gross value added rose from €7.2 billion in 2015 to €9.3 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 28% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Herford?
Of the 126,830 jobs located in Herford in 2023, 28% in public services, education, health and other services, 29% in industry and 0.8% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Herford?
The number of people working in Herford rose by 1.7% between 2015 and 2023, to 126,830.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Herford compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Herford ranks 148 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 145 | Lahn-Dill-Kreis | 5.7% |
| 146 | Havelland | 5.7% |
| 147 | Cuxhaven | 5.7% |
| 148 | Herford | 5.7% |
| 149 | Euskirchen | 5.6% |
| 150 | Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis | 5.6% |
| 151 | Rhein-Kreis Neuss | 5.6% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Herford ranks 219 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 216 | Pirmasens, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,559 |
| 217 | Euskirchen | €3,558 |
| 218 | Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen | €3,557 |
| 219 | Herford | €3,551 |
| 220 | Flensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,550 |
| 221 | Leipzig, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,550 |
| 222 | Steinburg | €3,550 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Herford ranks 125 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 122 | Oldenburg, Landkreis | €30,460 |
| 123 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | €30,439 |
| 124 | Ostholstein | €30,419 |
| 125 | Herford | €30,418 |
| 126 | St. Wendel | €30,416 |
| 127 | Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis | €30,404 |
| 128 | Ostallgäu | €30,402 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Herford ranks 208 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 205 | Rems-Murr-Kreis | 66.0% |
| 206 | Nürnberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 66.0% |
| 207 | Ammerland | 66.0% |
| 208 | Herford | 65.9% |
| 209 | Neustadt a. d. Waldnaab | 65.9% |
| 210 | Odenwaldkreis | 65.9% |
| 211 | Offenbach, Landkreis | 65.9% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Herford ranks 98 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | Bernkastel-Wittlich | 33.4% |
| 96 | Vechta | 33.3% |
| 97 | Kulmbach | 32.9% |
| 98 | Herford | 32.8% |
| 99 | Schwäbisch Hall | 32.8% |
| 100 | Memmingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.7% |
| 101 | Miltenberg | 32.5% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Herford ranks 269 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 266 | Vorpommern-Rügen | 20.5% |
| 267 | Memmingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.4% |
| 268 | Jena, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.4% |
| 269 | Herford | 20.4% |
| 270 | Osnabrück, Landkreis | 20.4% |
| 271 | Kassel, Landkreis | 20.4% |
| 272 | Freising | 20.3% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Herford ranks 246 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 243 | Sömmerda | 21.3% |
| 244 | Trier-Saarburg | 21.3% |
| 245 | Nürnberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.2% |
| 246 | Herford | 21.1% |
| 247 | Ammerland | 21.1% |
| 248 | Pinneberg | 21.1% |
| 249 | Emmendingen | 21.0% |
More on Herford: 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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