Electricians at work. The construction sector is affected by a skills shortage
Keystone
The record-low unemployment rate of 2.4% is expected to lead to a shortage of skilled professionals. Some industries and businesses are already feeling the squeeze.
Last May, 110,000 people were registered as unemployed – 18% less compared with the previous year. The situation has improved particularly for young people (15- to 24-year-olds) and those over 50.
“In the hospitality industry, it’s already very difficult to find enough staff. That’s why we are hesitant to dismiss unsuitable employees, because we know it will not be easy to replace them,” a Lausanne restaurant owner told swissinfo.ch.
More
More
Swiss jobless rate drops to 2.4%
This content was published on
The unemployment rate in Switzerland has reached a new nadir – just 2.4%, according to latest official statistics.
Some cantons in central Switzerland, such as Obwalden, have an unemployment rate of less than 1%, forcing businesses to decline orders.
Nationwide, the list of occupations affected by a labour shortage includes the IT industry, law, metal processing, mechanical engineering, transport, construction and the health sector.
Within IT, the situation is likely to change somewhat after Nestlé announced it would cut 580 IT jobs in Switzerland.
‘Acute shortage’
Oliver Adler, chief economist at Credit Suisse, said in an interview with the French-language newspaper La Tribune de GenèveExternal link that half of all companies looking to fill vacancies were already affected by the lack of skilled workers.
Adler is the author of the study “Strategies for coping with the skilled labour shortage”, which surveyed 90,000 small and medium-sized Swiss companies.
He found that the shortage “was a very important factor in determining the success of a business”.
A quarter of the businesses Adler surveyed had even suffered from “an acute shortage”, he said.
Negative impact
A general, nationwide shortage of skilled workers would have a particularly negative impact on Switzerland as a business location, Adler said.
It is possible to recruit staff from abroad, and there are currently over 320,000 registered cross-border commuters working in Switzerland.
But on July 1 this year, measures “against mass migration” will come into force. These are the result of a vote on a popular initiative in 2014 and will make it harder for companies to employ workers from abroad.
It will oblige companies to inform regional employment services about any job vacancies in sectors with an unemployment rate of more than 8% before advertising them in other countries.
More
More
Government approves list of jobs to be advertised locally
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Council has approved the list of professions for which vacancies must be advertised at the local unemployment office.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
Swiss to reduce administrative burden on farms from 2026
This content was published on
From 2026, the number of inspections of farms is to be reduced, without any loss of quality, said economics minister Guy Parmelin.
Swiss insurance boss proposes Singapore-style healthcare system
This content was published on
CEO of Swiss health insurer Sanitas has said that healthcare costs could be reduced if Switzerland were to follow the Singapore model.
Swiss minister talks crime and security in visit to the Netherlands
This content was published on
Swiss justice minister Beat Jans spent two days in the Netherlands discussing security, police cooperation and justice with international bodies.
Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland
This content was published on
Copper and zinc can be expected to accumulate in the soil, particularly if farmyard manure is used for several years and is greater than the amount of nutrients absorbed by the grass. This was announced by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on Friday. The findings are based on the results of the seventh National Soil Monitoring of Switzerland (Nabo).
Lilo Baur wins Swiss Grand Prix for performing arts
This content was published on
The Swiss actress and theatre director Lilo Baur has received this year's Swiss Grand Prix for Performing Arts, also known as the Hans Reinhart Ring.
Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland
This content was published on
A Kurdish supporter of the Islamist terrorist network al-Qaeda can stay in Switzerland, the Federal Administrative Court has ruled. It has withdrawn the annulment of the man’s provisional admission.
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has closed criminal proceedings relating to the Swiss owners affected by the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” emissions scandal.
This content was published on
The employment outlook in Switzerland will remain stable towards the end of 2024, according to the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.
Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault
This content was published on
A former Miss Switzerland candidate has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in New York in 1993. The US Republican candidate’s campaign team has denied the accusations.
Report finds partial unemployment saves jobs in times of crisis
This content was published on
According to a new study, partial unemployment and a reduction of work hours can save jobs and cut down on overall social benefits paid out.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.