Economy, jobs and prices in Hochsauerlandkreis (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 40,000 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 104% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 160th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Hochsauerlandkreis?
The local economy produced €11.7 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Hochsauerlandkreis?
About 152,150 people worked in Hochsauerlandkreis in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Hochsauerlandkreis?
At 4.4% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Hochsauerlandkreis ranked 161st lowest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). 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 Hochsauerlandkreis?
In 2023, Hochsauerlandkreis recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 3.7%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 145th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 3.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Hochsauerlandkreis?
The share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Hochsauerlandkreis was 36.8% in 2023, 107th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 31.8%. In 2019 the figure was 35.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Hochsauerlandkreis?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Hochsauerlandkreis was €3,657 in 2023, 168th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. That is up from €3,358 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Hochsauerlandkreis?
In 2023, Hochsauerlandkreis recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 86.1%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 138th lowest of 400 districts. 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 Hochsauerlandkreis?
The purchasing power per resident in Hochsauerlandkreis was €30,220 in 2023, 147th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. It was €24,017 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Hochsauerlandkreis?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Hochsauerlandkreis was 22.4% in 2023, 94th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. It was 23.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Hochsauerlandkreis?
At -0.6 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Hochsauerlandkreis ranked 124th highest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). In 2019 the figure was -0.9.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Hochsauerlandkreis?
At 4.6 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Hochsauerlandkreis ranked 138th highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). It was 4.4 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Hochsauerlandkreis?
The largest part of the economy of Hochsauerlandkreis in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 32.1% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (23.1%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Hochsauerlandkreis?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 32.1% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Hochsauerlandkreis growing?
Gross value added rose from €8.0 billion in 2015 to €10.7 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 33% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Hochsauerlandkreis?
Of the 152,150 jobs located in Hochsauerlandkreis in 2023, 32% in public services, education, health and other services, 26% in industry and 1.8% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Hochsauerlandkreis?
The number of people working in Hochsauerlandkreis rose by 4.2% between 2015 and 2023, to 152,150.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Hochsauerlandkreis compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Hochsauerlandkreis ranks 240 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 237 | Göppingen | 4.4% |
| 238 | Rosenheim, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.4% |
| 239 | Merzig-Wadern | 4.4% |
| 240 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 4.4% |
| 241 | Schwalm-Eder-Kreis | 4.4% |
| 242 | Bamberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.4% |
| 243 | Vogelsbergkreis | 4.4% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Hochsauerlandkreis ranks 168 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 165 | Aschaffenburg, Landkreis | €3,663 |
| 166 | Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald | €3,663 |
| 167 | Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis | €3,657 |
| 168 | Hochsauerlandkreis | €3,657 |
| 169 | Waldeck-Frankenberg | €3,655 |
| 170 | Waldshut | €3,654 |
| 171 | Soest | €3,654 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Hochsauerlandkreis ranks 147 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 144 | Warendorf | €30,248 |
| 145 | Emmendingen | €30,224 |
| 146 | Kaufbeuren, Kreisfreie Stadt | €30,222 |
| 147 | Hochsauerlandkreis | €30,220 |
| 148 | Wesel | €30,219 |
| 149 | Siegen-Wittgenstein | €30,127 |
| 150 | Oberbergischer Kreis | €30,118 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Hochsauerlandkreis ranks 135 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | Amberg-Sulzbach | 68.0% |
| 133 | Warendorf | 68.0% |
| 134 | Kaufbeuren, Kreisfreie Stadt | 68.0% |
| 135 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 68.0% |
| 136 | München, Landkreis | 67.9% |
| 137 | Groß-Gerau | 67.9% |
| 138 | Holzminden | 67.9% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Hochsauerlandkreis ranks 105 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Worms, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.3% |
| 103 | Neu-Ulm | 32.3% |
| 104 | Altenkirchen (Westerwald) | 32.3% |
| 105 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 32.1% |
| 106 | Stuttgart, Stadtkreis | 31.8% |
| 107 | Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen | 31.7% |
| 108 | Saale-Orla-Kreis | 31.7% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Hochsauerlandkreis ranks 263 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 260 | Schwandorf | 20.7% |
| 261 | Leverkusen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.5% |
| 262 | Dessau-Roßlau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.5% |
| 263 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 20.5% |
| 264 | Neuwied | 20.5% |
| 265 | Flensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.5% |
| 266 | Vorpommern-Rügen | 20.5% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Hochsauerlandkreis ranks 205 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 202 | Sonneberg | 23.3% |
| 203 | Wartburgkreis | 23.3% |
| 204 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.2% |
| 205 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 23.1% |
| 206 | Saale-Holzland-Kreis | 23.1% |
| 207 | Zwickau | 22.9% |
| 208 | Viersen | 22.9% |
More on Hochsauerlandkreis: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.