Economy, jobs and prices in Saale-Orla-Kreis (Thuringia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 32,300 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 84% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 291st highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Saale-Orla-Kreis?
The local economy produced €2.8 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
About 35,850 people worked in Saale-Orla-Kreis in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
The unemployment rate in Saale-Orla-Kreis was 5.6% in 2023, 156th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. It was 4.6% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
In 2023, Saale-Orla-Kreis recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 5.1%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 155th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 4.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
In 2023, Saale-Orla-Kreis recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 34.2%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 154th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 31.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Saale-Orla-Kreis was €2,831 in 2023, 3rd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. That is up from €2,420 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
In 2023, Saale-Orla-Kreis recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 92.3%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 114th highest of 400 districts. 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 Saale-Orla-Kreis?
The purchasing power per resident in Saale-Orla-Kreis was €26,227 in 2023, 9th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. In 2019 the figure was €20,819.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
In 2023, Saale-Orla-Kreis recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 12.8%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 62nd lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 12.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Saale-Orla-Kreis?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Saale-Orla-Kreis was -15.5 in 2023, 170th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. That is down from -12.9 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
At 1.7 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Saale-Orla-Kreis ranked 15th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). It was 1.9 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
The largest part of the economy of Saale-Orla-Kreis in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 31.7% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (29.9%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Saale-Orla-Kreis?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 31.7% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Saale-Orla-Kreis growing?
Gross value added rose from €1.9 billion in 2015 to €2.6 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 39% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
Of the 35,850 jobs located in Saale-Orla-Kreis in 2023, 27% in public services, education, health and other services, 33% in industry and 4.2% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Saale-Orla-Kreis?
The number of people working in Saale-Orla-Kreis fell by 8.3% between 2015 and 2023, to 35,850.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Saale-Orla-Kreis compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Saale-Orla-Kreis ranks 156 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 153 | Jena, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.6% |
| 154 | Leipzig | 5.6% |
| 155 | Kleve | 5.6% |
| 156 | Saale-Orla-Kreis | 5.6% |
| 157 | Weiden i. d. Opf, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.5% |
| 158 | Gotha | 5.5% |
| 159 | Siegen-Wittgenstein | 5.5% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Saale-Orla-Kreis ranks 398 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 394 | Vogtlandkreis | €2,907 |
| 395 | Vorpommern-Rügen | €2,906 |
| 396 | Hildburghausen | €2,901 |
| 397 | Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis | €2,899 |
| 398 | Saale-Orla-Kreis | €2,831 |
| 399 | Görlitz | €2,820 |
| 400 | Erzgebirgskreis | €2,815 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Saale-Orla-Kreis ranks 392 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 389 | Leipzig, Kreisfreie Stadt | €26,349 |
| 390 | Flensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €26,301 |
| 391 | Görlitz | €26,286 |
| 392 | Saale-Orla-Kreis | €26,227 |
| 393 | Duisburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €26,129 |
| 394 | Halle (Saale), Kreisfreie Stadt | €26,061 |
| 395 | Vorpommern-Greifswald | €25,755 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Saale-Orla-Kreis ranks 13 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Memmingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 71.7% |
| 11 | Erlangen-Höchstadt | 71.7% |
| 12 | Donau-Ries | 71.7% |
| 13 | Saale-Orla-Kreis | 71.6% |
| 14 | Saalekreis | 71.6% |
| 15 | Anhalt-Bitterfeld | 71.5% |
| 16 | Erzgebirgskreis | 71.5% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Saale-Orla-Kreis ranks 108 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 105 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 32.1% |
| 106 | Stuttgart, Stadtkreis | 31.8% |
| 107 | Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen | 31.7% |
| 108 | Saale-Orla-Kreis | 31.7% |
| 109 | Warendorf | 31.6% |
| 110 | Teltow-Fläming | 31.6% |
| 111 | Mühldorf a. Inn | 31.5% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Saale-Orla-Kreis ranks 393 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 390 | Schweinfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.3% |
| 391 | Stendal | 14.3% |
| 392 | Börde | 14.2% |
| 393 | Saale-Orla-Kreis | 14.0% |
| 394 | Sömmerda | 14.0% |
| 395 | Hohenlohekreis | 13.9% |
| 396 | Weimarer Land | 12.2% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Saale-Orla-Kreis ranks 84 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Kaiserslautern, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.0% |
| 82 | Wittmund | 29.9% |
| 83 | Uelzen | 29.9% |
| 84 | Saale-Orla-Kreis | 29.9% |
| 85 | Märkisch-Oderland | 29.8% |
| 86 | Hildesheim | 29.8% |
| 87 | Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.7% |
More on Saale-Orla-Kreis: 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…)
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