At the same time, trade unions complained that wages were too low for many workers and demanded more pay.
On Monday, the State Secretariat for Economic affairs (Seco) said the jobless rate fell from 3% in 2021 to 2.2% last year.
This corresponds to 99,577 people registered as out of work on average each month. The number of jobless people and those already in employment seeking a new position also decreased to 175,549 but there are signs of this rate picking up in January.
The amount of money given out by the state to compensate for shortened working hours was CHF366 million ($394 million) in 2022, significantly down on the CHF4.9 billion paid out during the pandemic year of 2021.
“With the economic recovery and falling unemployment, it become increasingly difficult for companies to attract workers over the course of 2022,” stated Seco.
However, the Swiss Trade Union Federation complained on Monday that wage rises are not keeping up with inflation, which weighed in at 2.8% last year.
Unions called for a minimum wage of CHF5,000 per month for workers who had been through an apprenticeship and at least CHF4,500 for all people in work.
The Federation also called on the government to put the brakes on health insurance hikes that will rise 6.6% this year.
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Looking ahead: Switzerland’s economic outlook for 2023
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Switzerland should join NATO, as in the future it cannot rely on its long-standing tradition of neutrality for its defence, John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security adviser, declared in an interview on Sunday.
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A demonstration was held in Geneva on Sunday calling for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine. Around 50 Russians took part in the gathering outside the UN building.
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Swiss firms facing unprecedented talent crunch
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Businesses in Switzerland are being forced to cope with an historic shortage of highly skilled workers, according to an annual jobs survey.
Unions call for 4-5% wage increase amid rising inflation
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Swiss trade unions are calling on employers to increase real wages in response to rising inflation and higher energy prices.
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Growth forecasts for Switzerland have been revised downwards for the current year and 2023 by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute.
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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.