Economy, jobs and prices in Schmalkalden-Meiningen (Thuringia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 30,000 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 78% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 333rd highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
The local economy produced €4.1 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
About 57,340 people worked in Schmalkalden-Meiningen in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
At 4.5% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranked 171st lowest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). It was 4.0% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
At 5.6% in 2023, the unemployment rate among under-25s in Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranked 131st highest of 400 German districts (district median 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 Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
At 31.5% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranked 196th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). That is up from 29.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
In 2023, Schmalkalden-Meiningen recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €2,944, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 15th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €2,533.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Schmalkalden-Meiningen was 91.8% in 2023, 119th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. That is up from 89.7% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
In 2023, Schmalkalden-Meiningen recorded a purchasing power per resident of €27,031, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 43rd lowest of 400 districts. That is up from €21,268 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
In 2023, Schmalkalden-Meiningen recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 16.3%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 114th lowest of 400 districts. It was 15.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Schmalkalden-Meiningen was -17.2 in 2023, 158th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. It was -18.1 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
In 2023, Schmalkalden-Meiningen had 2.1 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 31st lowest of 400 districts. It was 1.4 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
The largest part of the economy of Schmalkalden-Meiningen in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 31.2% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (30.1%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 31.2% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Schmalkalden-Meiningen growing?
Gross value added rose from €3.0 billion in 2015 to €3.7 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 26% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
Of the 57,340 jobs located in Schmalkalden-Meiningen in 2023, 31% in public services, education, health and other services, 28% in industry and 1.8% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Schmalkalden-Meiningen?
The number of people working in Schmalkalden-Meiningen fell by 3.0% between 2015 and 2023, to 57,340.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Schmalkalden-Meiningen compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranks 231 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 228 | Ammerland | 4.5% |
| 229 | Kusel | 4.5% |
| 230 | Marburg-Biedenkopf | 4.5% |
| 231 | Schmalkalden-Meiningen | 4.5% |
| 232 | Potsdam-Mittelmark | 4.5% |
| 233 | Harburg | 4.5% |
| 234 | München, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.5% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranks 386 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 383 | Altmarkkreis Salzwedel | €2,957 |
| 384 | Prignitz | €2,946 |
| 385 | Eichsfeld | €2,945 |
| 386 | Schmalkalden-Meiningen | €2,944 |
| 387 | Havelland | €2,943 |
| 388 | Ludwigslust-Parchim | €2,942 |
| 389 | Greiz | €2,931 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranks 358 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 355 | Altenburger Land | €27,068 |
| 356 | Freyung-Grafenau | €27,065 |
| 357 | Gotha | €27,042 |
| 358 | Schmalkalden-Meiningen | €27,031 |
| 359 | Cloppenburg | €27,014 |
| 360 | Ilm-Kreis | €27,002 |
| 361 | Burgenlandkreis | €27,000 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranks 41 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Regensburg, Landkreis | 70.5% |
| 39 | Rottweil | 70.5% |
| 40 | Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge | 70.4% |
| 41 | Schmalkalden-Meiningen | 70.4% |
| 42 | Nürnberger Land | 70.4% |
| 43 | Ludwigsburg | 70.3% |
| 44 | Ansbach, Landkreis | 70.3% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranks 117 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | Nürnberger Land | 31.3% |
| 115 | Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis | 31.2% |
| 116 | Pforzheim, Stadtkreis | 31.2% |
| 117 | Schmalkalden-Meiningen | 31.2% |
| 118 | Eichsfeld | 31.1% |
| 119 | Rhein-Kreis Neuss | 31.1% |
| 120 | Waldshut | 31.0% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranks 367 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 364 | Gotha | 16.5% |
| 365 | Kyffhäuserkreis | 16.5% |
| 366 | Burgenlandkreis | 16.3% |
| 367 | Schmalkalden-Meiningen | 16.3% |
| 368 | Böblingen | 16.3% |
| 369 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.2% |
| 370 | Zweibrücken, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.1% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Schmalkalden-Meiningen ranks 78 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge | 30.3% |
| 76 | Jerichower Land | 30.3% |
| 77 | Recklinghausen | 30.2% |
| 78 | Schmalkalden-Meiningen | 30.1% |
| 79 | Elbe-Elster | 30.0% |
| 80 | Schaumburg | 30.0% |
| 81 | Kaiserslautern, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.0% |
More on Schmalkalden-Meiningen: 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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