Economy, jobs and prices in Ostholstein (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 31,500 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 82% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 304th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Ostholstein?
The local economy produced €7.1 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Ostholstein?
About 94,790 people worked in Ostholstein in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Ostholstein?
The unemployment rate in Ostholstein was 4.9% in 2023, 193rd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. 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 Ostholstein?
In 2023, Ostholstein recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 4.4%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 191st lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 4.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Ostholstein?
At 31.9% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Ostholstein ranked 198th highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). That is up from 30.6% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Ostholstein?
At €3,177 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Ostholstein ranked 61st lowest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). That is up from €2,784 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Ostholstein?
In 2023, Ostholstein recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 93.2%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 94th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 89.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Ostholstein?
The purchasing power per resident in Ostholstein was €30,419 in 2023, 124th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. In 2019 the figure was €23,897.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Ostholstein?
At 22.6% in 2023, the share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Ostholstein ranked 85th highest of 400 German districts (district median 19.7%). In 2019 the figure was 23.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Ostholstein?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Ostholstein was -21.3 in 2023, 123rd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. In 2019 the figure was -18.2.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Ostholstein?
At 5.2 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Ostholstein ranked 84th highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). It was 4.1 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Ostholstein?
The largest part of the economy of Ostholstein in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 31.2% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (25.3%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Ostholstein?
Factories, mines and energy produced 15.2% of the value added in Ostholstein in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Ostholstein growing?
Gross value added rose from €4.4 billion in 2015 to €6.5 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 49% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Ostholstein?
Of the 94,790 jobs located in Ostholstein in 2023, 39% in public services, education, health and other services, 10% in industry and 2.4% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Ostholstein?
The number of people working in Ostholstein rose by 5.5% between 2015 and 2023, to 94,790.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Ostholstein compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Ostholstein ranks 208 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 205 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.9% |
| 206 | Oberhavel | 4.9% |
| 207 | Segeberg | 4.9% |
| 208 | Ostholstein | 4.9% |
| 209 | Saarpfalz-Kreis | 4.9% |
| 210 | Offenbach, Landkreis | 4.8% |
| 211 | Nordfriesland | 4.8% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Ostholstein ranks 340 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 337 | Wartburgkreis | €3,187 |
| 338 | Oder-Spree | €3,185 |
| 339 | Südwestpfalz | €3,184 |
| 340 | Ostholstein | €3,177 |
| 341 | Coburg, Landkreis | €3,175 |
| 342 | Salzlandkreis | €3,168 |
| 343 | Dahme-Spreewald | €3,167 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Ostholstein ranks 124 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | Braunschweig, Kreisfreie Stadt | €30,460 |
| 122 | Oldenburg, Landkreis | €30,460 |
| 123 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | €30,439 |
| 124 | Ostholstein | €30,419 |
| 125 | Herford | €30,418 |
| 126 | St. Wendel | €30,416 |
| 127 | Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis | €30,404 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Ostholstein ranks 254 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 251 | Suhl, Kreisfreie Stadt | 64.8% |
| 252 | Halle (Saale), Kreisfreie Stadt | 64.8% |
| 253 | Westerwaldkreis | 64.7% |
| 254 | Ostholstein | 64.6% |
| 255 | Märkischer Kreis | 64.6% |
| 256 | Hildesheim | 64.5% |
| 257 | Cochem-Zell | 64.5% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Ostholstein ranks 347 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 344 | Ebersberg | 15.7% |
| 345 | Lüneburg, Landkreis | 15.6% |
| 346 | Märkisch-Oderland | 15.5% |
| 347 | Ostholstein | 15.2% |
| 348 | Cochem-Zell | 15.1% |
| 349 | Kaiserslautern, Landkreis | 15.1% |
| 350 | Freiburg im Breisgau, Stadtkreis | 15.0% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Ostholstein ranks 99 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Aschaffenburg, Landkreis | 25.5% |
| 97 | St. Wendel | 25.4% |
| 98 | Pinneberg | 25.4% |
| 99 | Ostholstein | 25.3% |
| 100 | Helmstedt | 25.2% |
| 101 | Augsburg, Landkreis | 25.2% |
| 102 | Bergstraße | 25.2% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Ostholstein ranks 66 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Bremerhaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.3% |
| 64 | Wolfenbüttel | 31.3% |
| 65 | Bamberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.3% |
| 66 | Ostholstein | 31.2% |
| 67 | Berchtesgadener Land | 31.2% |
| 68 | Passau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.0% |
| 69 | Weiden i. d. Opf, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.6% |
More on Ostholstein: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Schleswig-Holstein · 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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