Switzerland employment grows 2.0% in second quarter

Swiss employment saw significant growth in the second quarter, according to data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (OFS). Total employment, adjusted for agriculture, rose by 2.0% year-on-year to 5.698 million positions, representing a quarterly increase of 0.5%.

The service sector remains the largest employer with 4.550 million jobs, a 2.2% increase. The secondary sector, including industry and construction, grew by 1.2% to 1.148 million jobs. Women accounted for 46.5% of total employment, while holding 68.2% of part-time positions.

Job vacancies increased by 2.7% to 98,700. While vacancies in the secondary sector surged by 21.8%, the service sector saw a 2.4% decrease. Companies continue to face challenges in recruiting qualified personnel, with one-third reporting difficulties in finding desired profiles.

Despite these challenges, the employment outlook remains optimistic. The employment forecast indicator rose to 1.04 points in the second quarter, as more companies plan to expand their workforce compared to those planning reductions.