Increase in employment in 2nd quarter 2025
Neuchâtel, 25.08.2025 — In the 2nd quarter 2025, total employment (excluding agriculture) in Switzerland rose by 0.6% compared with the same quarter of the previous year (seasonally adjusted, +0.1% over previous quarter). Enterprises reported 10.0% 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 5.532 million jobs in the 2nd quarter 2025. This corresponds to an increase of 35 400 (+0.6%) year on year. Women made up 46.7% of the workforce. At the end of the 2nd quarter 2025, 2.286 million jobs were part-time (women accounted for 69.4% of these jobs). In full-time equivalents, the total volume of employment was 4.320 million jobs (women accounted for 40.6%). This was 21 000 full-time equivalents more than the previous year (+0.5%).
Secondary sector employment (industry and construction) fell in the 2nd quarter 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, by 4 600 jobs (–0.4%) to 1.129 million jobs. The tertiary sector (services) had 40 000 (+0.9%) more jobs in the same period, with a total volume of 4.402 million jobs.
Upward short-term trend
Compared with previous quarter, seasonally-adjusted employee numbers in enterprises grew by 4 900 jobs (+0.1%) in the 2nd quarter 2025. In the same quarter, there were 2 800 fewer jobs (–0.2%) in the secondary sector, while the tertiary sector saw an increase of 6 700 jobs (+0.2%).
Number of vacancies declines
Enterprises reported a total of 93 200 vacancies in the 2nd quarter 2025. Year on year, this was a decline of 10 400 jobs (–10.0%). Both the secondary (–14.2%) and tertiary sectors (–8.8%) had fewer vacancies. Vacancies represented 1.7% of all jobs, 1.7% of secondary sector jobs and 1.6% of tertiary sector jobs.
Fewer difficulties in finding skilled workers
Weighted by number of jobs, difficulties in the recruitment of skilled workers declined in 2nd quarter 2025 in comparison with the same quarter of the previous year (37.1%; –2.2 percentage points).
Somewhat gloomy employment outlook
The share of enterprises announcing an increase in the number of jobs in the short-term was 11.0% in the 2nd quarter 2025 (12.3% in the same quarter of the previous year), and those planning to reduce their workforce represented 4.3% (3.7% in previous year's quarter). The employment outlook indicator has fallen (–1.1 percentage points) compared with that of the previous year, but remains positive (1.04).
This press release and further information on this topic can be found on the FSO website.