Slight increase in employment in 4th quarter 2025
Neuchâtel, 26.02.2026 — In the 4th quarter 2025, total employment (excluding agriculture) in Switzerland rose by 0.2% compared with the same quarter of the previous year (seasonally adjusted, +0.2% over previous quarter). Enterprises reported 4.3% fewer vacancies than a year earlier. There has been little change in the difficulty of recruiting skilled workers compared to the previous quarter, and the employment outlook remains positive. These are some of the latest findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Enterprises in Switzerland reported 5.544 million jobs in the 4th quarter 2025. This corresponds to an increase of 8600 jobs (+0.2%) year on year. Women made up 46.8% of the workforce. At the end of the 4th quarter 2025, 2.296 million jobs were part-time (women accounted for 69.4% of these jobs). In full-time equivalents, the total volume of employment was 4.327 million jobs (women accounted for 40.7%). This was 10 800 full-time equivalents more than the previous year (+0.3%).
Secondary sector employment (industry and construction) fell in the 4th quarter 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, by 1100 jobs (–0.1%) to 1.129 million jobs. The tertiary sector (services) had 9700 (+0.2%) more jobs in the same period, with a total volume of 4.415 million jobs.
Upward short-term trend
Compared with previous quarter, seasonally-adjusted employee numbers in enterprises grew by 12 700 jobs (+0.2%) in the 4th quarter 2025. In the same quarter, there was a slight upward trend in the secondary sector, with 5600 additional jobs (+0.5%), while the tertiary sector saw an increase of 7800 jobs (+0.2%).
Number of vacancies declines
Enterprises reported a total of 86 000 vacancies in the 4th quarter 2025. Year on year, this was a decline of 3900 jobs (–4.3%). Both the secondary (–8.0%) and tertiary sectors (–3.2%) had fewer vacancies. Vacancies represented 1.5% of all jobs, 1.7% of secondary sector jobs and 1.5% of tertiary sector jobs.
Fewer difficulties in finding skilled workers
Weighted by the number of employees, 36.2% of enterprises reported difficulties in recruiting qualified labour in the 4th quarter of 2025. In comparison with the previous quarter, this is a decrease of 0.1 percentage points. The situation has eased somewhat in both the secondary and tertiary sectors (–0.2 and –0.1 percentage points respectively).
Somewhat optimistic employment outlook
The share of enterprises announcing an increase in the number of jobs in the short-term was 10.1% in the 4th quarter 2025 (9.8% in the previous quarter) and those planning to reduce their workforce represented 5.2% (5.4% in the previous quarter). The employment outlook indicator has risen compared to the previous quarter (1.03; +0.2%).
This press release and further information on the topic can be found on the FSO website.