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Brandenburg's economy: impressive successes in sight despite the crisis!
Märkisch-Oderland is struggling with economic challenges, but is showing positive developments in innovation and job growth.
Brandenburg's economy: impressive successes in sight despite the crisis!
Hardly any other federal state has attracted as much attention as Brandenburg in recent years. But today, on September 26th, 2025, the clouds on the economic horizon appear somewhat dim. The mood in the economy is not exactly rosy, as tagesschau.de reports. Despite successful years, criticism and concerns about the industry are increasing. IG Metall warns of the threat of deindustrialization. Jan Otto, the district manager for Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony, is particularly concerned, emphasizing how important the lessons from the 1990s are.
However, there are also bright spots: a study by the Prognos Institute entitled “Brandenburg on the move” shows that Brandenburg is a leader among the eastern German states. The region has the lowest unemployment rates, the highest population growth and the highest productivity. These are all factors that Economics Minister Daniel Keller (SPD) sees as a sign that Brandenburg remains an attractive place to work.
Economic fluctuations
As brilliant as the statistics appear, the current declines in economic performance are just as shocking. In the first half of 2025 there was a decline of 1.0 percent, as n-tv.de reports. However, Keller assures that there will be no permanent downturn in the economy. The basis for the coming years will depend crucially on the framework conditions that need to be created for investments.
Steffen Kammradt from the Brandenburg Economic Development Agency calls for the infrastructure and the energy sector to be strengthened. In addition, digitalization is essential in order to make the space available to large companies. In particular, the settlement of the Chinese company Dreame, which is planning an electric car factory in Brandenburg, could provide a breath of fresh air. A possible location could be near the Tesla factory in Grünheide, which makes the region interesting for further investments.
Structural challenges
However, not all the news is positive. The study by mwaek.brandenburg.de shows that Brandenburg's economic development was severely slowed down in 2024 by various crises. Geopolitical dislocations and a difficult economic environment create uncertainty, and the decline is not just a local matter; A similar picture can also be seen nationwide.
The energy-intensive industry in particular is suffering from the consequences of the war in Ukraine. Bankruptcies such as that of solar glass manufacturer GMB are alarming examples. The construction industry is also weak; it has been in crisis mode since 2020. Nevertheless, there are bright spots in the service sectors, even if they still lag behind the national average.
Building into the future
Given all these challenges, it remains crucial for Brandenburg to set the right course. Woidke confirms ongoing discussions with the federal government about relief, particularly with regard to network fees and electricity tax. The need for new tax incentives and significant investments is called for to not only navigate the crisis, but also to make Brandenburg future-proof.
A broad industry structure could help Brandenburg to master the economic challenges. Even though the mood in the economy is currently tense, the labor market has so far been relatively stable. Ultimately, the coming months will show whether the political decisions and measures will have an impact. What is certain is that Brandenburg has great potential – you just have to use it correctly.