Switzerland faces financial insecurity and housing shortages

A study by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) reveals that nearly half of the Swiss population lacks sufficient financial reserves to maintain their standard of living for more than three months in the event of income loss. While 83 percent of respondents report saving money occasionally, approximately 15 percent have no financial reserves at all, and 30 percent can only cover one to three months of expenses.

Financial vulnerability extends to high earners as well; among households earning at least 10,000 Swiss francs monthly, one in four possesses only up to three months of reserves. The study also notes that nearly 25 percent of respondents had to borrow money in the past year, and 29 percent struggled to pay tax bills on time.

Compounding these financial pressures is a significant housing shortage. According to Wüest Partner, the lack of affordable housing has prevented between 20,000 and 30,000 households from being formed. This shortage is particularly impacting young adults, who are increasingly staying with parents or moving to more affordable cantons like Aargau, Thurgau, and Schaffhausen to escape the high costs in centers like Zurich.