Economy, jobs and prices in Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt (Thuringia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 44,100 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 115% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 111th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €10.9 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 144,520 people worked in Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Erfurt?
The unemployment rate in the city of Erfurt was 6.1% in 2023, 119th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. That is up from 5.7% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Erfurt?
At 5.8% in 2023, the unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Erfurt ranked 108th highest of 400 German districts (district median 4.4%). That is up from 4.8% 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 Erfurt?
At 29.9% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Erfurt ranked 169th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). It was 26.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Erfurt?
In 2023, the city of Erfurt recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,356, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 96th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €2,868.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Erfurt?
At 98.9% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in the city of Erfurt ranked 41st highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). It was also 98.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Erfurt?
The purchasing power per resident in the city of Erfurt was €27,319 in 2023, 64th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. In 2019 the figure was €22,016.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Erfurt?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Erfurt was 11.9% in 2023, 35th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. It was 12.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Erfurt?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Erfurt was +21.6 in 2023, 58th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. In 2019 the figure was +21.5.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Erfurt?
At 3.6 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in the city of Erfurt ranked 176th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). That is up from 2.9 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 36.5% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (23.7%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 12.2% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €7.4 billion in 2015 to €9.9 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 35% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 144,520 jobs located in Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 40% in public services, education, health and other services, 7% in industry and 0.4% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 2.4% between 2015 and 2023, to 144,520.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 120 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 117 | Baden-Baden, Stadtkreis | 6.1% |
| 118 | Suhl, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 119 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 120 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 121 | Wolfsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 122 | Spree-Neiße | 6.1% |
| 123 | Ludwigslust-Parchim | 6.0% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 305 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 302 | Freyung-Grafenau | €3,362 |
| 303 | Rottal-Inn | €3,361 |
| 304 | Verden | €3,360 |
| 305 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,356 |
| 306 | Cochem-Zell | €3,345 |
| 307 | Ammerland | €3,345 |
| 308 | Osterholz | €3,344 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 337 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 334 | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt | €27,372 |
| 335 | Saale-Holzland-Kreis | €27,347 |
| 336 | Salzgitter, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,320 |
| 337 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,319 |
| 338 | Bautzen | €27,282 |
| 339 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,262 |
| 340 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,255 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 302 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 299 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 63.1% |
| 300 | Rhein-Lahn-Kreis | 63.1% |
| 301 | Uckermark | 63.1% |
| 302 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 63.0% |
| 303 | Friesland (DE) | 62.9% |
| 304 | Nordfriesland | 62.9% |
| 305 | Unna | 62.9% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 374 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 371 | Erding | 12.3% |
| 372 | Potsdam-Mittelmark | 12.3% |
| 373 | Barnim | 12.2% |
| 374 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 12.2% |
| 375 | Weimar, Kreisfreie Stadt | 12.1% |
| 376 | Landau in der Pfalz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.9% |
| 377 | Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis | 11.8% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 184 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 181 | Donnersbergkreis | 22.7% |
| 182 | Göppingen | 22.6% |
| 183 | Weiden i. d. Opf, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.5% |
| 184 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.5% |
| 185 | Viersen | 22.5% |
| 186 | Haßberge | 22.5% |
| 187 | Schleswig-Flensburg | 22.5% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 24 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Dessau-Roßlau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 37.8% |
| 22 | Delmenhorst, Kreisfreie Stadt | 37.4% |
| 23 | Vorpommern-Greifswald | 36.9% |
| 24 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 36.5% |
| 25 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 36.2% |
| 26 | Rosenheim, Kreisfreie Stadt | 36.2% |
| 27 | Barnim | 35.5% |
More on Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Thuringia · 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.