Economic development and employment

Public procurement is a relevant lever for municipalities in shaping local economic relations. We want to make the award of public contracts more medium-sized and innovation-friendly, so that local companies and start-ups are better served. In addition, we want systematic sustainability criteria such as life cycle costs and adherence to tariffs to be taken into account.

Wiesbaden should leave no one behind. We want to better coordinate the offers of employment promotion and integrate company and non-company measures. The aim is to provide low-threshold qualifications, tailor-made programmes for young people, people with a history of migration, refugees and the long-term unemployed. We will receive the Wiesbaden Youth Workshop. We want to review the “Optionskommune” model.

We want to consistently pursue the path taken by the labour market project ‘Stay in Wiesbaden’ and use all legal options to facilitate access to the labour market for refugees. We would like to work closely with local companies, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts and also place a special focus on the target group of refugees within our specialist initiative. Measures that we consider important include support in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and the recognition of foreign qualifications, low-threshold language and vocational preparation courses, and sponsorships between companies and refugees. This is how we create a win-win situation: Refugees get a real perspective, companies find skilled workers and Wiesbaden becomes more attractive – as a city of opportunities and cohesion.

We want to continue the dialogue and constructive cooperation with the companies and their associations. We use various formats, such as the Industrial Advisory Board. Together with the craftsmanship, the crafts agenda was developed, which we want to implement consistently. We are convinced that the major challenges of demographic change, digitalization and the energy transition can only be overcome through this cooperation.

The ecological transformation offers great opportunities for local crafts and the construction industry: from energy renovation to PV and new mobility. Together with associations, companies, climate protection agency and educational institutions, we want to forge a Wiesbaden alliance for green trades, promote networking and consulting and acquire targeted funding.

A climate-neutral, secure and affordable energy supply is an essential location factor. We want to support our local companies in this way, attract funding and promote innovative cooperation, for example in the use of waste heat.

Tourism is a central component of the urban economic strategy with particular importance in the hotel, gastronomy and retail sectors. We want to further strengthen Wiesbaden as an attractive destination and sustainable tourist destination. Following the joint marketing of the ‘Destination Wiesbaden Rheingau’, we are creating incentives for climate-friendly travel and transport by making public transport and rental services more attractive for tourists. We continue to develop the offers for young target groups, families and cultural tourists. We want to enhance tourism information and expand digital marketing channels.

Skilled labour shortages and recruitment of young talent are among the key challenges facing companies. We are committed to equipping the ‘Industrial Skilled Workers Initiative’ developed during the last legislature with sufficient resources and extending it to other sectors such as crafts and health.

The Opportunities Platform was launched as part of the WI WORK LIFE ⁇ Industry Skills Initiative in 2022. It offers citizens digital support in education, training and careers and facilitates access to job offers, further education and apprenticeships in Wiesbaden.

The training radar was introduced in 2025. Through this digital platform, companies can recommend suitable applicants who they cannot recruit for capacity reasons to other Wiesbaden-based companies. In this way, training opportunities in the region remain transparent and easily accessible.

The Forum Talent Initiative Industry was founded in 2022. It connects professionals digitally and supports companies in finding and promoting talent. At the same time, it facilitates professional exchange between industry, educational institutions and organisations in order to strengthen the retention of skilled workers in Wiesbaden.

We want a strong craft in this city. In May 2025, the Wiesbaden 2030 Crafts Agenda was presented. With it, we strengthen the craft businesses of our city and accompany them specifically in digitization, in the promotion of young talent and skilled workers. By expanding modern infrastructure and smart solutions, companies are becoming sustainable, creating high-quality jobs and helping to shape Wiesbaden as a vibrant, sustainable city.

With WiCoPop, Wiesbaden has launched an innovative project that revives vacant shops in the city centre. Start-ups, young entrepreneurs and creatives presented their products, ideas and cultural projects in temporary sales and exhibition rooms – rent-free or cost-effective. WiCoPop has thus not only promoted the local economy, but also created new employment and start-up opportunities, strengthened the city centre as an attractive location and made Wiesbaden a lively place of innovation and encounter for citizens and companies alike.

With the continuation of the 2025+ retail concept, Wiesbaden is specifically strengthening its inner city and central districts. The concept strategically accompanies local retailers, start-ups and pop-up stores and supports them in the further development of their offerings, both locally and digitally. The aim is to make the city centre lively and attractive, to secure employment and to position Wiesbaden as an economically strong, modern location. The long-term orientation will benefit trade, the economy and citizens alike.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Wiesbaden restaurateurs were able to try out temporary terraces in parking lots - so-called parklets - in an uncomplicated manner. Thanks to a new statute, these can now be applied for permanently. The parklets invigorate the streets, create additional seats for guests and make the city center more attractive for encounters, culture and shopping.

The Industry Advisory Board has established itself as the central point of contact for the Wiesbaden economy. This is where companies, chambers, universities and trade unions come together to discuss current challenges, investments and innovation projects. Under the leadership of our Green Minister and Mayor, the economy is involved in decision-making processes at an early stage. This ensures that the needs of the industry are heard, the attractiveness of the location is strengthened and jobs are secured in the long term.

In times of change, our inner city needs a strong voice. This is what the urban city management team under the leadership of our GREEN deputy and mayor stands for, which, together with tradespeople and other actors, promotes a lively city center. It coordinates events, markets and city actions, supports trade and gastronomy, networks local actors and develops strategies to stimulate and increase attractiveness. This not only attracts visitors, but also strengthens jobs and secures the city centre as an economically vibrant location. This works: In 2025, compared to other cities with 250,000 to 600,000 inhabitants, the city of Wiesbaden took first place nationwide in the VITALCity Award, an award that is awarded annually to cities in Germany in order to measure and promote the vibrancy of their inner cities.

Until the end of 2021, the fees for displaying goods were based on the ground benchmarks of the respective road situation. As a result, retailers in high-frequency locations such as Kirchgasse had to pay up to 600 euros per square meter per year, while shops in less central areas had significantly lower fees. With the introduction of a new fee schedule for merchandise displays, Wiesbaden has significantly relieved the retail trade in the city centre. The fees were transparent and staggered according to location in the city centre, which means that many retailers benefit from a significant reduction in costs. This measure strengthens the competitiveness of brick-and-mortar retail and contributes to the revival of the city centre.

Wiesbaden bundles its tourist offers together with the Rheingau region via the destination Wiesbaden Rheingau. Coordinated marketing campaigns, bookable offers and the networking of local products create an attractive, holistic experience for visitors. The cooperation promotes tourism, strengthens gastronomy, the hotel industry and culture and secures and creates jobs in the region. In addition, the destination has been certified as a sustainable destination since 2024 and thus supports environmentally friendly tourism.

The city of Wiesbaden invests specifically in central tourism and event locations: The renovation of the Kurhaus creates construction and craft orders and secures long-term opportunities for use for culture and gastronomy. At the same time, Casino and Kurhausgastronomie will be re-tendered, as the previous operator contracts expire. This ensures investments, modern concepts and jobs. These measures strengthen the city centre as an economically attractive location for visitors and employment.