Key industries

In addition to the strongly export-oriented automotive and production engineering industries, the healthcare industry, logistics, financial services, knowledge-based services, IT/communications, and skilled trades are of particular importance to the labor market in the Hannover region.

Last but not least, science and research, the creative industries, and the trade fair and convention industry shape the reputation and image of the Hannover region.

Automotive

• 26,000 skilled workers* across the entire value chain (4.8% of skilled workers) in 60 companies
• Together with Braunschweig and Wolfsburg, the Hanover region is one of the most important international centers of the automotive industry
• Major companies: VW Commercial Vehicles, Continental AG, ZF Wabco, and Clarios, as well as numerous suppliers
• Focus areas: Commercial vehicles, tires, drive systems, special parts, brake systems, battery technology, vehicle information systems
• Research and educational institutions: 30 institutes and university facilities related to the automotive industry
• ITS Automotive as a cross-thematic mobility cluster for joint research projects
• Automotive Transformation Network NEU/WAGEN Hannover/Hildesheim 
• Leading trade fair: Mobilitec as part of HANNOVER MESSE

Energy

• 5,900 SvB* (1.1% of SvB) in 75 companies
• Major companies: enercity and E.ON as large energy suppliers, as well as companies involved in the development and implementation of new technologies (e.g., JA gas technology, CHP manufacturer A-Tron, energiewerkstatt or Kraftwerk, Windwärts Energie, GeoNet-Umweltconsulting)
• Research and educational institutions: 20 institutes and university facilities related to the energy industry, including in the field of wind energy
• Networks: Leibniz Research Center Energy 2050, ForWind (Wind Energy Research Network), Climate Protection Agency Region Hannover, KEAN, and the Geozentrum Hannover
• World's first wind turbine based on a wooden structure and northern Germany's first biogas plant that enables biogas to be fed into the natural gas grid
• Leading trade fair: EnergyDecentral and Energy and Wind as part of HANNOVER MESSE

Information and communications

• 25,500 SvB* (4.7% of SvB) in 1,050 companies
• Major companies: Finanz Informatik, TUI InfoTec, htp, Sennheiser, Madsack, NDR, and others
• Diversified industry structure with a specialization in IT services
• Research and educational institutions: 25 institutes and university facilities related to the information and communications industry, including L3S and the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hannover
• Networks: Digitales Hannover e.V., niedersachsen.digital e.V.

Healthcare

• 82,000 SvB* (15.1% of SvB) in 3,380 companies
• Strong university and non-university research and education: Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover University of Veterinary Medicine (TiHo), Life Science at Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover Clinical Trial Center, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), Clinical Research Center (CRC), Twincore Center for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research
• Important clinical location and major companies such as Abbott Pharmaceuticals, MSD Burgwedel Biotech, KIND Hearing Aids
• Medical Park Hannover as a central business and research location with a focus on biomedical engineering, transplantation, implants, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, preclinical and clinical research, and training
• Network: Gesundheitswirtschaft Hannover e.V.
• Leading trade fairs: Altenpflege and Biotechnica / Labvolution

Creative industries

• 16,100 SvB* (3.0% of SvB) in 1,640 companies
• Focus on the music industry: University of Music, Drama and Media, major players such as NDR Radiophilharmonie, Peppermint Park, and Sennheiser
• Numerous projects and events as part of the UNESCO City of Music
• Start-up center: Coworking space and maker space "Hafven"
• Network: kre|H|tiv Netzwerk e.V. as the fastest growing and largest industry network of its kind in Germany

Production technology

• 12,200 SvB* (2.3% of SvB) in 410 companies
• Strong university and non-university research and education: Hannover Production Technology Center (PZH), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Leibniz University Hannover, Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts
• Technology and start-up centers (TGZ): TechFactory at ONE TechCampus (Mechanical Engineering Campus at Leibniz University Hannover, in planning, 2026) & TechFactory IT & Biotechnology (Nordstadt Campus at Leibniz University Hannover, in planning, 2027)
• Cooperation with TEWISS, the Institute for Integrated Production Hannover (IPH), the Laser Center Hannover (LZH) and the German Institute for Rubber Technology (DIK), Hannover Center for Optical Technologies (HOT), PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence
• Roboticscity Hannover, Leibniz University Hannover robot factory, robokind Foundation, Robotation Academy as a training and event center for robotics and automation technology
• Headquarters of the Federal Competence Center for SMEs 4.0 for Lower Saxony and Bremen "Mit uns digital" (Digital with us)
• Network: Production Technology Hannover Informs (PHI)
• Leading trade fairs: HANNOVER MESSE, EuroBLECH, AGRITECHNICA, EMO, and LIGNA

Logistics

• 64,100 SvB* (11.8% of SvB) in 2,410 companies (sectoral approach)
• Major companies: Amazon, arvato, Dachser, DHL, DPD, DSV, FedEx, Fiege, Geodis, GLS, Hellmann, Hermes, Kühne+Nagel, UPS, etc.
• Focus areas: Industrial logistics, retail logistics, e-commerce, courier, express and parcel service providers (CEP), contract logistics, after-sales/value-added services
• European and national distribution centers of Bahlsen, Connox, Continental AG, Delticom, KraussMaffei Extrusion, Lyreco, Mercedes-Benz, Reemtsma, Sennheiser, Sonepar, VW Commercial Vehicles, Weatherford Oil Tool, ZF Wabco, among others
• Logistics-related research institutions: Institute for Transport and Automation Technology, Institute for Integrated Production, Institute for Factory Equipment and Logistics, Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts
• Networks: Logistikportal Niedersachsen e.V., Roundtable Personallogistik der Region Hannover,
• Working Group on Freight Transport Centers Lower Saxony/Bremen (ARGE GVZ), ERFA Rail Connection

Financial services

• 26,300 SvB* (4.8% of SvB) in 820 companies
• Headquarters of nationally significant insurance companies (e.g., Concordia Insurance Group, Hannover Re Group, Mecklenburg Insurance Group, Talanx AG, Swiss Life, Vereinigte Hannoversche Versicherung (VHV), Versicherungsgruppe Hannover (VGH), Wertgarantie Technische Versicherung)
• Headquarters of Nord/LB, the Lower Saxony Stock Exchange in Hanover (BÖAG Börsen AG) and one of Germany's largest savings banks
• Central training and further education institutions: Savings Bank Academy, Vocational Academy for Banking, Insurance Industry Training Center, Interdisciplinary Competence Center for Insurance Sciences

Trade fairs and conferences

• 1,300 SvB* (0.2% of SvB) in 50 companies
• One of the world's largest exhibition centers and headquarters of Deutsche Messe AG
• Venue for leading international trade fairs such as HANNOVER MESSE, AGRITECHNICA, EMO, Biotechnica/Labvolution
• Large number of congresses and conferences attracting nationwide attention
• Congress and conference facilities such as the Convention Center, Hannover Congress Centrum, Herrenhausen Palace

Knowledge-based business services

• 39,700 SvB* and 2,840 companies (7.3% of SvB) in legal, tax, and management consulting, architecture and engineering firms, as well as advertising and market research
• Major companies: Branches of consulting firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG AG
• The establishment of a technology center on the mechanical engineering campus of LUH offers further potential for knowledge and technology transfer in the future, especially for companies in the engineering sector

Crafts

• 54,100 SvB* (10.0% of SvB) in 6,140 companies
• Main sectors: Construction and finishing trades, health/personal care/cleaning, and metalworking
• Important innovation impulses that are also applied in other economic sectors, e.g., in the energy sector
• One in five trainees in the Hanover region completes their apprenticeship in the skilled trades
• Research and service institutions: Heinz Piest Institute (HPI) for Craftsmanship Technology
• Training and further education: Support and Education Center of the Hanover Chamber of Skilled Trades (Campus Handwerk Garbsen)

Science and research

• 9,000 SvB* (1.7% of SvB) in 130 companies
• Influenced by the fields of medicine (Hanover Medical School, Hanover Veterinary School, Leibniz University Hanover, Fraunhofer Society, Medical Park) and engineering
• Above-average start-up intensity
• Above-average proportion of third-party-funded positions, especially in the fields of medicine and engineering
• Strong cooperation between science and industry

Sources: Employment statistics from the Federal Employment Agency, as of June 30, 2024; LSN craft trade census 2023 (published 09/2025)

* SvB: Employees subject to social insurance contributions

Last updated: October 2025 (skilled trades October 2025)