Economy, jobs and prices in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 29,900 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 78% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 334th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €5.6 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 72,110 people worked in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Solingen?
At 7.8% in 2023, the unemployment rate in the city of Solingen ranked 54th highest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). That is up from 7.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Solingen?
In 2023, the city of Solingen recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 7.4%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 54th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 7.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Solingen?
The share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Solingen was 46.6% in 2023, 9th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 31.8%. That is up from 36.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Solingen?
At €3,604 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in the city of Solingen ranked 200th lowest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). That is up from €3,265 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Solingen?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in the city of Solingen was 90.7% in 2023, 139th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. That is up from 86.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Solingen?
At €30,480 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in the city of Solingen ranked 117th highest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). In 2019 the figure was €24,392.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Solingen?
In 2023, the city of Solingen recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 20.0%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 185th highest of 400 districts. It was 20.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Solingen?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Solingen was -21.8 in 2023, 120th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. That is down from -15.9 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Solingen?
In 2023, the city of Solingen had 8.6 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 6th highest of 400 districts. It was 6.2 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 26.4% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (25.9%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Factories, mines and energy produced 23.2% of the value added in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €4.1 billion in 2015 to €5.1 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 22% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 72,110 jobs located in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 34% in public services, education, health and other services, 23% in industry and 0.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt fell by 1.2% between 2015 and 2023, to 72,110.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 54 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Worms, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.9% |
| 52 | Flensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.9% |
| 53 | Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.9% |
| 54 | Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.8% |
| 55 | Prignitz | 7.8% |
| 56 | Lüchow-Dannenberg | 7.8% |
| 57 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.8% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 201 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 198 | Dachau | €3,609 |
| 199 | Neunkirchen | €3,605 |
| 200 | Borken | €3,604 |
| 201 | Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,604 |
| 202 | Segeberg | €3,602 |
| 203 | Rhön-Grabfeld | €3,598 |
| 204 | Stormarn | €3,596 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 117 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | Tübingen, Landkreis | €30,523 |
| 115 | Plön | €30,506 |
| 116 | Lippe | €30,484 |
| 117 | Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €30,480 |
| 118 | Rottweil | €30,478 |
| 119 | Ravensburg | €30,464 |
| 120 | Neuburg-Schrobenhausen | €30,464 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 341 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 338 | Pforzheim, Stadtkreis | 61.1% |
| 339 | Osnabrück, Kreisfreie Stadt | 61.0% |
| 340 | Wiesbaden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.9% |
| 341 | Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.9% |
| 342 | Remscheid, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.8% |
| 343 | Salzgitter, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.8% |
| 344 | Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.7% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 233 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 230 | Pirmasens, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.4% |
| 231 | Nienburg (Weser) | 23.2% |
| 232 | Segeberg | 23.2% |
| 233 | Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.2% |
| 234 | Aichach-Friedberg | 23.1% |
| 235 | Tübingen, Landkreis | 23.1% |
| 236 | Main-Kinzig-Kreis | 23.1% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 88 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Trier-Saarburg | 26.0% |
| 86 | Landsberg am Lech | 26.0% |
| 87 | Wetteraukreis | 25.9% |
| 88 | Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 25.9% |
| 89 | Lichtenfels | 25.9% |
| 90 | Ebersberg | 25.8% |
| 91 | Darmstadt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 25.7% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 130 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 127 | Region Hannover | 26.4% |
| 128 | Nordfriesland | 26.4% |
| 129 | Salzlandkreis | 26.4% |
| 130 | Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 26.4% |
| 131 | Landkreis Rostock | 26.3% |
| 132 | Herzogtum Lauenburg | 26.3% |
| 133 | Neunkirchen | 26.1% |
More on Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt: 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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