commuter car remains the clear number 1 for commuting to work in germany

commuter car remains the clear number 1 for commuting to work in germany

Germany has reached new record numbers when it comes to commuters. A recent government study has revealed that soaring housing prices in city centers are driving people to live further away.

A Growing Number of Commuters

With almost 60 percent of the workforce in Germany now identifying as commuters, the number of active commuters has risen by 0.2 percent, reaching a total of 18.4 million. This significant increase can be attributed to a combination of factors, including rising housing costs in urban areas and a general increase in employment opportunities.

Major Cities Lead the Way

Unsurprisingly, Munich takes the lead as the city with the highest number of commuters, with 365,000 individuals traveling to work daily. Frankfurt follows closely behind. Additionally, over 1.3 million Germans are classified as long-distance commuters, traveling distances exceeding 150 kilometers (93 miles) on a regular basis.

It is important to note that this study does not account for part-time commuters.

The East-West Divide

Sabine Zimmermann, a member of the Left Party, highlighted an ongoing trend among citizens of eastern Germany to commute to the western states for work. This trend can be traced back to the aftermath of German reunification in 1990, when the former Communist states in the east were integrated into the federal structures of the west.

Recent figures show that over 400,000 commuters from the eastern states travel to the western states daily, an increase of almost 100,000 since 1999. On the other hand, only 158,000 residents of the western states commute in the opposite direction. However, the number of commuters heading east has more than doubled compared to 1999 figures.

Longer Travel Distances

In addition to the increase in the number of commuters, the average distance traveled for work purposes has also risen significantly. In 1999, commuters traveled an average of 14.59 kilometers (9 miles) each way, whereas in 2017, the average distance increased to 16.91 kilometers (10.5 miles).

The study also revealed that in at least half of the eastern German states, commutes are more than double the length compared to those in western Germany.

Through this study, it is evident that the commuter car remains the top choice for traveling to work in Germany. The combination of rising housing prices and increased job opportunities has contributed to the growing number of commuters in the country. However, the east-west divide and longer travel distances pose challenges for many workers.