Economy, jobs and prices in Recklinghausen (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 27,200 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 71% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 368th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Recklinghausen?
The local economy produced €19.0 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Recklinghausen?
About 255,090 people worked in Recklinghausen in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Recklinghausen?
At 8.1% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Recklinghausen ranked 46th highest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). It was also 8.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Recklinghausen?
In 2023, Recklinghausen recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 6.2%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 92nd highest of 400 districts. It was 6.7% 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 Recklinghausen?
The share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Recklinghausen was 49.1% in 2023, 5th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 31.8%. It was 49.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Recklinghausen?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Recklinghausen was €3,593 in 2023, 196th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. It was €3,260 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Recklinghausen?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Recklinghausen was 93.9% in 2023, 78th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. In 2019 the figure was 89.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Recklinghausen?
In 2023, Recklinghausen recorded a purchasing power per resident of €29,673, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 182nd highest of 400 districts. That is up from €23,344 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Recklinghausen?
In 2023, Recklinghausen recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 21.8%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 114th highest of 400 districts. That is down from 23.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Recklinghausen?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Recklinghausen was -29.9 in 2023, 80th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. That is up from -30.2 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Recklinghausen?
At 6.2 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Recklinghausen ranked 38th highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). That is down from 8.1 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Recklinghausen?
The largest part of the economy of Recklinghausen in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 30.2% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (25.2%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Recklinghausen?
Factories, mines and energy produced 20.2% of the value added in Recklinghausen in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Recklinghausen growing?
Gross value added rose from €12.9 billion in 2015 to €17.4 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 34% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Recklinghausen?
Of the 255,090 jobs located in Recklinghausen in 2023, 40% in public services, education, health and other services, 15% in industry and 0.7% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Recklinghausen?
The number of people working in Recklinghausen rose by 6.2% between 2015 and 2023, to 255,090.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Recklinghausen compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Recklinghausen ranks 46 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.2% |
| 44 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.2% |
| 45 | Mülheim an der Ruhr, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.1% |
| 46 | Recklinghausen | 8.1% |
| 47 | Frankfurt (Oder), Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.1% |
| 48 | Emden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.1% |
| 49 | Kaiserslautern, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.1% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Recklinghausen ranks 205 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 202 | Segeberg | €3,602 |
| 203 | Rhön-Grabfeld | €3,598 |
| 204 | Stormarn | €3,596 |
| 205 | Recklinghausen | €3,593 |
| 206 | Regensburg, Landkreis | €3,592 |
| 207 | Miltenberg | €3,584 |
| 208 | Wesel | €3,583 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Recklinghausen ranks 182 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 179 | Amberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €29,726 |
| 180 | Euskirchen | €29,719 |
| 181 | Minden-Lübbecke | €29,715 |
| 182 | Recklinghausen | €29,673 |
| 183 | Nürnberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €29,662 |
| 184 | Pforzheim, Stadtkreis | €29,657 |
| 185 | Oberhavel | €29,643 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Recklinghausen ranks 346 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 343 | Salzgitter, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.8% |
| 344 | Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.7% |
| 345 | Hamm, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.6% |
| 346 | Recklinghausen | 60.5% |
| 347 | Euskirchen | 60.4% |
| 348 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.4% |
| 349 | Tübingen, Landkreis | 60.3% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Recklinghausen ranks 277 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 274 | Ammerland | 20.4% |
| 275 | Schleswig-Flensburg | 20.3% |
| 276 | Heinsberg | 20.3% |
| 277 | Recklinghausen | 20.2% |
| 278 | Kaiserslautern, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.2% |
| 279 | Helmstedt | 20.2% |
| 280 | Herzogtum Lauenburg | 20.1% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Recklinghausen ranks 105 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Bergstraße | 25.2% |
| 103 | Augsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 25.2% |
| 104 | Heinsberg | 25.2% |
| 105 | Recklinghausen | 25.2% |
| 106 | Duisburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 25.1% |
| 107 | Südliche Weinstraße | 24.9% |
| 108 | Ravensburg | 24.9% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Recklinghausen ranks 77 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | Hagen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.3% |
| 75 | Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge | 30.3% |
| 76 | Jerichower Land | 30.3% |
| 77 | Recklinghausen | 30.2% |
| 78 | Schmalkalden-Meiningen | 30.1% |
| 79 | Elbe-Elster | 30.0% |
| 80 | Schaumburg | 30.0% |
More on Recklinghausen: 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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