The number of cross-border workers in Switzerland – except those from France – has dropped for the second consecutive quarter. This marks the second year-on-year decline by quarter in 20 years.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/ac
According to numbers released by the Federal Statistical OfficeExternal link on Thursday, the fourth quarter of 2018 saw 2,000 fewer people commuting to Switzerland to work compared to the same period the year before. There were fewer commuters from Italy (-4.1%) and Germany (-2.4%), but more from France (+1.3%).
In terms of sheer numbers just over half came from France (55%), about a quarter from Italy (22.4%) and a fifth from Germany (19.2%). At the end of 2018, 314,000 cross-border workers were working in Switzerland.
Major centres
Four out of five cross-border workers were working in three Swiss economic hubs: over a third in the Lake Geneva region (37.3%), almost a quarter in Northwestern Switzerland (22.1%) and a fifth in Ticino (19.8%). The absolute number was highest in the Lake Geneva Region (117,000).
However, the situation is different in terms of their share in the labour force. While the Lake Geneva region (12.1%) and Northwestern Switzerland (10.3%) had fairly similar shares, the proportion of cross-border commuters in Ticino represented more than a quarter of the employed workforce (27.3%).
More
More
Geneva’s cross-border workers are less qualified, live further afield
This content was published on
A survey shows that cross-border workers in the Geneva area now travel greater distances to work and are less likely to be managers and executives.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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.
Read more
More
Outcry as Geneva keeps banning crossborder pupils
This content was published on
Canton Geneva wants to stop crossborder pupils from attending its schools. The move has angered many Swiss living in neighbouring France.
Failure for Geneva initiative targeting cross-border workers
This content was published on
A campaign in Geneva aiming to give priority to locals over cross-border workers has failed to collect the signatures needed to bring the issue to vote.
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.