Economy, jobs and prices in Zwickau (Saxony, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 35,100 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 91% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 236th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Zwickau?
The local economy produced €12.2 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Zwickau?
About 156,250 people worked in Zwickau in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Zwickau?
The unemployment rate in Zwickau was 5.4% in 2023, 175th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. That is up from 4.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Zwickau?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in Zwickau was 5.7% in 2023, 113th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. It was 5.6% 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 Zwickau?
At 33.0% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Zwickau ranked 171st highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). That is up from 29.7% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Zwickau?
In 2023, Zwickau recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,189, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 65th lowest of 400 districts. It was €2,697 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Zwickau?
At 94.7% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Zwickau ranked 70th highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). In 2019 the figure was 93.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Zwickau?
In 2023, Zwickau recorded a purchasing power per resident of €27,998, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 97th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €22,028.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Zwickau?
At 12.0% in 2023, the share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Zwickau ranked 40th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 19.7%). It was 12.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Zwickau?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Zwickau was -0.2 in 2023, 123rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. In 2019 the figure was -1.6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Zwickau?
In 2023, Zwickau had 3.8 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 196th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 2.8.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Zwickau?
The largest part of the economy of Zwickau in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 38.3% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (22.9%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Zwickau?
Factories, mines and energy produced 38.3% of the value added in Zwickau in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Zwickau growing?
Gross value added rose from €8.3 billion in 2015 to €11.1 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 35% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Zwickau?
Of the 156,250 jobs located in Zwickau in 2023, 29% in public services, education, health and other services, 27% in industry and 1.0% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Zwickau?
The number of people working in Zwickau fell by 1.8% between 2015 and 2023, to 156,250.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Zwickau compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Zwickau ranks 175 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 172 | Warendorf | 5.4% |
| 173 | Paderborn | 5.4% |
| 174 | Greiz | 5.4% |
| 175 | Zwickau | 5.4% |
| 176 | Uelzen | 5.3% |
| 177 | Donnersbergkreis | 5.3% |
| 178 | Wolfenbüttel | 5.3% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Zwickau ranks 336 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 333 | Wittmund | €3,211 |
| 334 | Kronach | €3,205 |
| 335 | Schleswig-Flensburg | €3,194 |
| 336 | Zwickau | €3,189 |
| 337 | Wartburgkreis | €3,187 |
| 338 | Oder-Spree | €3,185 |
| 339 | Südwestpfalz | €3,184 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Zwickau ranks 304 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | Holzminden | €28,039 |
| 302 | Hersfeld-Rotenburg | €28,018 |
| 303 | Hagen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,999 |
| 304 | Zwickau | €27,998 |
| 305 | Haßberge | €27,981 |
| 306 | Teltow-Fläming | €27,976 |
| 307 | Marburg-Biedenkopf | €27,956 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Zwickau ranks 24 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Neustadt a. d. Aisch-Bad Windsheim | 71.3% |
| 22 | Schweinfurt, Landkreis | 71.2% |
| 23 | Freising | 71.1% |
| 24 | Zwickau | 71.1% |
| 25 | Günzburg | 71.1% |
| 26 | Landshut, Landkreis | 71.0% |
| 27 | Eichsfeld | 71.0% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Zwickau ranks 55 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Görlitz | 39.0% |
| 53 | Lindau (Bodensee) | 38.5% |
| 54 | Ilm-Kreis | 38.4% |
| 55 | Zwickau | 38.3% |
| 56 | Marburg-Biedenkopf | 38.2% |
| 57 | Ostallgäu | 37.8% |
| 58 | Uckermark | 37.7% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Zwickau ranks 356 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 353 | Harz | 17.2% |
| 354 | Bodenseekreis | 17.1% |
| 355 | Heidekreis | 17.1% |
| 356 | Zwickau | 16.9% |
| 357 | Leipzig | 16.9% |
| 358 | Hildburghausen | 16.9% |
| 359 | Holzminden | 16.8% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Zwickau ranks 207 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 204 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.2% |
| 205 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 23.1% |
| 206 | Saale-Holzland-Kreis | 23.1% |
| 207 | Zwickau | 22.9% |
| 208 | Viersen | 22.9% |
| 209 | Greiz | 22.9% |
| 210 | Siegen-Wittgenstein | 22.9% |
More on Zwickau: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Saxony · 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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