Employment prospects continue to deteriorate in Switzerland

Employment prospects continue to deteriorate in Switzerland

Keystone-SDA

Listen to the article

Listening the article

Toggle language selector

English (US)

English (British)

Generated with artificial intelligence.

In Switzerland, the outlook for employment has deteriorated further. The corresponding indicator from the Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich economic research centre KOF is only just in positive territory.

This content was published on

August 5, 2025 – 10:42

+Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox

The employment indicator stood at 0.3 points in the third quarter, as the institute announced on Tuesday. In the second quarter of 2025, it was still at 1.0 (revised from 0.6). The indicator has thus reached its lowest level since the beginning of 2021.

According to the economists, a rapid upturn in the labour market is not in sight. Accordingly, the number of jobs in Switzerland is likely to grow only slightly or even decline slightly in the coming months.

The analyses are based on the responses of around 4,400 companies that were surveyed by KOF in July 2025 about their employment plans and expectations.

+ Employment slightly up at end of 2024 in Switzerland

The reasons for the decline are a more cautious assessment of current employment levels and employment prospects. On balance, the assessment of the current employment situation is still slightly positive.

The employment outlook, on the other hand, fell to 0.0 points. This means that the same number of companies now want to reduce the number of employees in the next three months as those that want to increase them.

Translated from German by DeepL/jdp

How we work

We select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools to translate them into English. A journalist then reviews the translation for clarity and accuracy before publication.  

Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. The news stories we select have been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team from news agencies such as Bloomberg or Keystone.

If you have any questions about how we work, write to us at english@swissinfo.ch.

A film from French-speaking Switzerland in the Swiss shortlist for the Oscars

More

Three films on the Swiss shortlist for the 2026 Oscars

This content was published on

Aug 6, 2025

The film that will represent Switzerland will be announced on August 12.

Read more: Three films on the Swiss shortlist for the 2026 Oscars

Small sculpture by David de Pury stolen in Neuchâtel

More

Protest sculpture of controversial Swiss philanthropist stolen

This content was published on

Aug 6, 2025

A small protest sculpture of the controversial banker and benefactor David de Pury in Neuchâtel has been stolen.

Read more: Protest sculpture of controversial Swiss philanthropist stolen

How female gorillas avoid inbreeding

More

Female gorillas prevent inbreeding by avoiding groups with male relatives

This content was published on

Aug 6, 2025

Female gorillas do not change groups randomly. They avoid the males they grew up with, thus preventing inbreeding, according to a study by the University of Zurich.

Read more: Female gorillas prevent inbreeding by avoiding groups with male relatives

Zug's Crypto Valley gains new member from Chinese crypto exchange

More

Chinese cryptocurrency exchange Jucoin to set up Swiss offshoot

This content was published on

Aug 6, 2025

Zug’s Crypto Valley is getting a new addition. The Chinese cryptocurrency exchange Jucoin will set up its European headquarters in Baar, as the company announced on Wednesday.

Read more: Chinese cryptocurrency exchange Jucoin to set up Swiss offshoot

Natural catastrophes lead to second most expensive half-year for insurers

More

Natural disasters lead to second most expensive half-year for insurers

This content was published on

Aug 6, 2025

The wildfires in California and storm damage have led to the second most expensive first half of the year ever for the insurance industry.

Read more: Natural disasters lead to second most expensive half-year for insurers

Swatch CEO Hayek, US duties 'arbitrary' and 'unjustified'

More

Swatch CEO expects spike in demand due to US tariffs

This content was published on

Aug 6, 2025

Nick Hayek believes that these tariffs will boost the watch group’s business.

Read more: Swatch CEO expects spike in demand due to US tariffs

The 78th Locarno Film Festival opens today

More

The 78th Locarno Film Festival opens today

This content was published on

Aug 6, 2025

This year 222 films will be screened, 100 of them world premieres. There are 18 films competing for the Golden Leopard.

Read more: The 78th Locarno Film Festival opens today

Customs duties: Karin Keller-Sutter to meet Marco Rubio

More

Swiss president to meet Marco Rubio for tariff talks

This content was published on

Aug 6, 2025

Karin Keller-Sutter will be received by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday afternoon.

Read more: Swiss president to meet Marco Rubio for tariff talks

Mountaineer falls to his death on the Matterhorn VS

More

Mountaineer falls to his death on the Matterhorn

This content was published on

Aug 5, 2025

A climber died after falling on the Matterhorn’s Hörnligrat ridge.

Read more: Mountaineer falls to his death on the Matterhorn

More and more older people are using the Internet

More

More and more older people in Switzerland are using the Internet

This content was published on

Aug 5, 2025

Internet use among Swiss pensioners rises to nearly 80%, with most preferring smartphones.

Read more: More and more older people in Switzerland are using the Internet