- Approximately two-thirds of Frankfurt's workforce reside outside the city.
Approximately 65% of Frankfurt's workforce journeys into the bustling city center of Main. In 2023, a study by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) revealed that 404,800 individuals, employed in Frankfurt, resided beyond the city boundaries. Whether they commuted daily or worked primarily from home was not delineated in the data. On a national scale, Frankfurt was positioned second behind Munich (454,900).
High commuting percentages are common in other Hessian cities as well: In Darmstadt, it's 70% (75,900), and in Offenbach, it's 68% (32,700). Darmstadt and Offenbach came in second and third place among Germany's largest cities with the most substantial commuter percentages, following Neuss, North Rhine-Westphalia. Wiesbaden's percentage stands at 58%, and Kassel's rests at 57%.
Residents of Limburg-Weilburg county endure the longest average commute among Hessian counties and independent cities, estimated around 25 kilometers. Vogelsbergkreis (around 23 kilometers), Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis (22), and Wetteraukreis (22) follow closely behind with comparable lengths. Main-Kinzig-Kreis and Bergstraße county are also relatively close, with a nearly 21-kilometer average commute. Residents of Kassel city enjoy the shortest commute, at approximately 10 kilometers. Nationally, the average commute hovers around 17 kilometers.
In terms of infrastructure, the transport and telecommunications systems significantly contribute to facilitating these daily commutes, ensuring efficient movement of people and data. Furthermore, the expansion of these sectors could potentially reduce commute times, enhancing the quality of life for Frankfurt's commuters.
