Kerkrade in shared first place with Roermond: job growth
The economy in Kerkrade is growing rapidly. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of jobs increased by 4.5%, accounting for 738 new jobs. This is the largest increase in Kerkrade's history, bringing the total number of jobs to 17,173.
Together with Roermond, this puts Kerkrade at the top in Limburg, and the municipality significantly outperforms the Limburg and Dutch averages.
High demand for lots in business parks
The growth is caused in part by the high demand for lots in Kerkrade's business parks. The larger sites are particularly popular. Outdated buildings are being demolished and replaced by sustainable commercial buildings. As a result, business parks are changing the townscape. The municipality has recently welcomed new companies such as Ranpak and Commaxx, and existing companies such as Boston Scientific have grown significantly.
Working together to build a strong local economy
Alderman Alexander Geers (Economic Affairs) is pleased with the numbers: "The increase in jobs is great for our town and the region. It is the largest growth in Kerkrade's history, and that gives a lot of confidence for the future. Together with our partners, such as the Samenwerkende Bedrijventerreinen Kerkrade (SBK) and Parkstad Limburg, we are working hard to strengthen the local economy. The hard work is now yielding good results. We are therefore very pleased with this growth and are doing everything we can to continue this positive trend."
The figures come from the latest report by Etil, a research firm that studies economic developments in Limburg.