Economy in the Soest district: Growth meets new challenges!

Economy in the Soest district: Growth meets new challenges!

In the region around Soest, exciting economic developments are underway, which shape both the labor markets and the demographic landscape. A report by Soester Anzeiger shows that the population in the district of Soest has increased by more than 11,000 people from 2013 to 2023. Almost 306,000 inhabitants now live in the region. A positive trend that could not only boost the local economy, but can also pave the way for younger people.

It is particularly noteworthy that the proportion of under-50-year-olds in the Soest district is 53.9 percent, which is higher than in the neighboring Hochsauerlandkreis. While the number of employees in the region liable to social security rose from 104,561 to 115,349, a growing concern about the future of the manufacturing trade can be determined. There is a slight decline in employees compared to the previous year.

Labor market in focus

The sales in the domestic industrial companies were anything but encouraging: a decline of almost 15 percent compared to the previous year is alarming. Abroad even fell by 23.2 percent, while domestic sales decreased by 7 percent. Despite these challenges, the unemployment rate in the Soest district remains 5.9 percent below the average of South Westphalia (6.1 percent) and the national average of 7.5 percent.

The climbing of the unemployed to 10,175 people is another indication that the economic challenges should not be underestimated. While general purchasing power in the region rose by 17.3 percent from 2020 to 2024, consumer prices in North Rhine-Westphalia exceeded this increase of 19.2 percent. This suggests that the cost of living is increasing, while the purchasing power does not grow to the same extent.

demographic challenges

As the statistics of Destatis , Germany faces significant demographic challenges. The BabyBoomer generation will largely retire in the next 15 years, while the younger age groups are unable to fill these gaps. It is predicted that the number of people in the employment age (20 to 66 years) could decrease by up to 4.8 million by 2040 with low net immigration.

In particular, the western countries have to deal with a stagnating or shrinking population in the working age. In order to obtain a stable number of employable, high net immigration numbers and increasing birth rates are essential. Another point is the increasing need for nursing staff: By 2049, the demand will increase by 33 percent according to Destatis .

Overall, it remains to be seen how these trends will affect Soest's economic and social structure of the region. Above all, it is important to develop new strategies in order to master the challenges of demographic change and to meet the demand for qualified workers. The developments are in the house for everyone involved - with a good portion of adaptability, however, the region can emerge strengthened from this situation.