Economy, jobs and prices in Wesel (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 31,300 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 82% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 309th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Wesel?
The local economy produced €16.0 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Wesel?
About 204,970 people worked in Wesel in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Wesel?
In 2023, Wesel recorded an unemployment rate of 6.8%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 89th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 5.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Wesel?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in Wesel was 6.5% in 2023, 87th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. That is up from 5.3% 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 Wesel?
At 39.1% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Wesel ranked 67th highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). That is down from 39.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Wesel?
At €3,583 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Wesel ranked 193rd lowest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). It was €3,219 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Wesel?
At 89.9% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Wesel ranked 166th highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). It was 86.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Wesel?
The purchasing power per resident in Wesel was €30,219 in 2023, 148th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. In 2019 the figure was €24,103.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Wesel?
In 2023, Wesel recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 22.8%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 79th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 25.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Wesel?
At -22.6 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Wesel ranked 114th lowest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). It was also -22.6 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Wesel?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Wesel was 6.1 in 2023, 40th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. That is down from 7.9 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Wesel?
The largest part of the economy of Wesel in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 25.2% of gross value added, followed by industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (23.0%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Wesel?
Factories, mines and energy produced 23.0% of the value added in Wesel in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Wesel growing?
Gross value added rose from €10.9 billion in 2015 to €14.7 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 34% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Wesel?
Of the 204,970 jobs located in Wesel in 2023, 36% in public services, education, health and other services, 15% in industry and 1.3% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Wesel?
The number of people working in Wesel rose by 3.0% between 2015 and 2023, to 204,970.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Wesel compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Wesel ranks 89 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | Altmarkkreis Salzwedel | 6.9% |
| 87 | Hildesheim | 6.9% |
| 88 | Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.8% |
| 89 | Wesel | 6.8% |
| 90 | Wittenberg | 6.8% |
| 91 | Wesermarsch | 6.6% |
| 92 | Nordsachsen | 6.6% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Wesel ranks 208 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 205 | Recklinghausen | €3,593 |
| 206 | Regensburg, Landkreis | €3,592 |
| 207 | Miltenberg | €3,584 |
| 208 | Wesel | €3,583 |
| 209 | Haßberge | €3,583 |
| 210 | Worms, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,579 |
| 211 | Bergstraße | €3,570 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Wesel ranks 148 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 151 | Main-Tauber-Kreis | €30,102 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Wesel ranks 315 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 312 | St. Wendel | 62.7% |
| 313 | Saarpfalz-Kreis | 62.7% |
| 314 | Plön | 62.6% |
| 315 | Wesel | 62.5% |
| 316 | Viersen | 62.4% |
| 317 | Bad Kreuznach | 62.3% |
| 318 | Rhein-Sieg-Kreis | 62.2% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Wesel ranks 239 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 236 | Main-Kinzig-Kreis | 23.1% |
| 237 | Neunkirchen | 23.0% |
| 238 | Verden | 23.0% |
| 239 | Wesel | 23.0% |
| 240 | Höxter | 23.0% |
| 241 | Deggendorf | 22.9% |
| 242 | Erlangen-Höchstadt | 22.9% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Wesel ranks 170 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 167 | Konstanz | 23.1% |
| 168 | Altenkirchen (Westerwald) | 23.1% |
| 169 | Stormarn | 23.1% |
| 170 | Wesel | 22.9% |
| 171 | Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis | 22.9% |
| 172 | Wittmund | 22.9% |
| 173 | Städteregion Aachen | 22.9% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Wesel ranks 155 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 152 | Meißen | 25.2% |
| 153 | Gotha | 25.2% |
| 154 | Oberhavel | 25.2% |
| 155 | Wesel | 25.2% |
| 156 | Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt | 25.2% |
| 157 | Wittenberg | 25.2% |
| 158 | Offenbach am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt | 25.1% |
More on Wesel: 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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