Economy, jobs and prices in Soest (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 39,900 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 104% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 163rd highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Soest?
The local economy produced €13.4 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Soest?
About 156,510 people worked in Soest in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Soest?
In 2023, Soest recorded an unemployment rate of 5.5%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 160th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 5.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Soest?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in Soest was 4.8% in 2023, 180th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. In 2019 the figure was 4.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Soest?
In 2023, Soest recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 36.0%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 122nd highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 35.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Soest?
At €3,654 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Soest ranked 171st highest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). That is up from €3,357 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Soest?
In 2023, Soest recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 85.6%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 126th lowest of 400 districts. It was 80.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Soest?
In 2023, Soest recorded a purchasing power per resident of €30,318, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 138th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €23,904.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Soest?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Soest was 21.1% in 2023, 138th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. In 2019 the figure was 21.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Soest?
In 2023, Soest recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of -9.7, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 190th highest of 400 districts. That is down from -7.8 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Soest?
At 4.3 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Soest ranked 156th highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). It was also 4.3 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Soest?
The largest part of the economy of Soest in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 35.0% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (21.4%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Soest?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 35.0% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Soest growing?
Gross value added rose from €9.0 billion in 2015 to €12.3 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 36% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Soest?
Of the 156,510 jobs located in Soest in 2023, 33% in public services, education, health and other services, 24% in industry and 1.9% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Soest?
The number of people working in Soest rose by 2.4% between 2015 and 2023, to 156,510.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Soest compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Soest ranks 160 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 157 | Weiden i. d. Opf, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.5% |
| 158 | Gotha | 5.5% |
| 159 | Siegen-Wittgenstein | 5.5% |
| 160 | Soest | 5.5% |
| 161 | Augsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.5% |
| 162 | Gießen, Landkreis | 5.5% |
| 163 | Heilbronn, Stadtkreis | 5.5% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Soest ranks 171 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 168 | Hochsauerlandkreis | €3,657 |
| 169 | Waldeck-Frankenberg | €3,655 |
| 170 | Waldshut | €3,654 |
| 171 | Soest | €3,654 |
| 172 | Miesbach | €3,653 |
| 173 | Darmstadt-Dieburg | €3,649 |
| 174 | Frankenthal (Pfalz), Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,648 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Soest ranks 138 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 135 | Diepholz | €30,344 |
| 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 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Soest ranks 197 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 194 | Borken | 66.3% |
| 195 | Donnersbergkreis | 66.3% |
| 196 | Peine | 66.3% |
| 197 | Soest | 66.3% |
| 198 | Märkisch-Oderland | 66.2% |
| 199 | Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis | 66.2% |
| 200 | Schwalm-Eder-Kreis | 66.1% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Soest ranks 75 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Groß-Gerau | 35.2% |
| 73 | Oberbergischer Kreis | 35.2% |
| 74 | Neuwied | 35.0% |
| 75 | Soest | 35.0% |
| 76 | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt | 34.8% |
| 77 | Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis | 34.8% |
| 78 | Kelheim | 34.8% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Soest ranks 303 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | Celle | 19.3% |
| 301 | Bayreuth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 19.2% |
| 302 | Unterallgäu | 19.2% |
| 303 | Soest | 19.2% |
| 304 | Ostalbkreis | 19.1% |
| 305 | Alb-Donau-Kreis | 19.1% |
| 306 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 19.1% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Soest ranks 241 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 238 | Anhalt-Bitterfeld | 21.5% |
| 239 | Ortenaukreis | 21.4% |
| 240 | Neuwied | 21.4% |
| 241 | Soest | 21.4% |
| 242 | Rosenheim, Landkreis | 21.3% |
| 243 | Sömmerda | 21.3% |
| 244 | Trier-Saarburg | 21.3% |
More on Soest: 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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