26.05.2025 - In the 1st quarter 2025, total employment (excluding agriculture) in Switzerland rose by 0.6% compared with the same quarter of the previous year (seasonally adjusted, +0.2% over previous quarter). Enterprises reported 16.4% fewer vacancies than a year earlier. Difficulties recruiting skilled workers have declined and employment prospects are up, despite enterprises' cautious assessment. These are some of the latest findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Enterprises in Switzerland reported 5.512 million jobs in the 1st quarter 2025. This corresponds to an increase of 31 500 (+0.6%) year on year. Women made up 46.9% of the workforce. At the end of the 1st quarter 2025, 2.265 million jobs were part-time (women accounted for 69.6% of these jobs). In full-time equivalents, the total volume of employment was 4.308 million jobs (women accounted for 40.8%). This was 29 900 full-time equivalents more than the previous year (+0.7%).
Secondary sector employment (industry and construction) rose only slightly in the 1st quarter 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, by 2800 jobs (+0.2%) to 1.128 million jobs. The tertiary sector (services) had 28 700 (+0.7%) more jobs in the same period, with a total volume of 4.384 million jobs.
Upward short-term trend
Seasonally-adjusted employee numbers in enterprises grew by 9600 jobs (+0.2%) in the 1st quarter 2025 compared with the previous quarter. In the same quarter, there was thus a slight downward trend in the secondary sector, with 900 fewer jobs (-0.1%), while the tertiary sector saw an increase of 13 400 jobs (+0.3%).
Number of vacancies declined
Enterprises reported a total of 93 800 vacancies in the 1st quarter 2025. Year on year, this was a decline of 18 400 jobs (-16.4%). Both the secondary (-16.8%) and tertiary sectors (-16.3%) had fewer vacancies. Vacancies represented 1.7% of all jobs, 1.8% of secondary sector jobs and 1.6% of tertiary sector jobs.
Shortage of skilled labour eases
Weighted by number of jobs, difficulties in the recruitment of skilled workers declined in the 1st quarter 2025 in comparison with the same quarter of the previous year (36.1%; -3.0 percentage points).
Gloomy employment outlook
The share of enterprises announcing an increase in the number of jobs in the short-term was 12.3% in 1st quarter 2025, as high as the previous year, and those planning to reduce their workforce represented 5.0% (4.2% in the same quarter of the previous year). Although it fell slightly in comparison with the previous year (‒0.5 percentage points), the employment outlook indicator remained positive (1.04).
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