Progress in Offenbach towards alleviating poverty and boosting employment levels

In the heart of Hesse, Offenbach has been making strides in its social landscape. Once known for higher poverty and unemployment rates, the city has seen significant improvements that have brought its averages to a healthy level.

The latest data reveals that the number of socially insured employees in Offenbach has increased by 2% to 60,031 by the end of 2023. This growth is reflected in the city's employment figures, which are above the average for the state of Hesse.

One of the most notable improvements is the decreasing dependence on social benefits. Fewer people in Offenbach are now dependent on basic security, despite a growing population and high immigration. Social Affairs Director Martin Wilhelm views this development as a sign that Offenbach is moving towards becoming a "normal city".

However, the report, which provides data on housing and homelessness, as well as support offers from the City of Offenbach, highlights areas where improvements are needed. The rate of child poverty in Offenbach has decreased to 19.3%, despite still being above the national average. There have been significant decreases in child poverty, particularly among children under three years old.

The city attributes the rising unemployment rate and old-age poverty partly to the lingering effects of the Corona pandemic and economic pressure from the Ukraine conflict. As a result, the unemployment rate in Offenbach has risen slightly to 8.9% compared to the previous year. The SGB-II rate, a key indicator of social welfare usage, reached a new low of 11.2% in December 2023, a decrease of almost seven percentage points since 2013.

The SGB-II rate among non-German beneficiaries in Offenbach has also decreased from 23 to 13.3% over the past decade. The rate of basic security in old age in Offenbach is currently 12.4%, affecting approximately one in eight residents.

Despite these challenges, Offenbach shows resilience, particularly in terms of employment rates and decreasing dependence on social benefits. However, Social Affairs Director Martin Wilhelm sees the ongoing economic challenges as a problem for social security that will need to be addressed politically and socially in the future. The report serves as a source of information on the current state of various social issues in Offenbach and potential areas for improvement.