Increase in employment in 2nd quarter 2026
Neuchâtel, 27.08.2026 — In the 2nd quarter 2026, total employment (excluding agriculture) in Switzerland rose by 2.0% compared with the same quarter of the previous year (seasonally adjusted, +0.5% over previous quarter). Enterprises reported 2.7% more job vacancies than a year earlier and difficulties recruiting skilled workers have increased compared with the previous quarter. The employment outlook remains positive. These are some of the latest findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Enterprises in Switzerland reported 5.698 million jobs in the 2nd quarter 2026. This was an increase of 111 800 jobs (+2.0%) year on year. Women made up 46.5% of the workforce. At the end of the 2nd quarter 2026, 2.388 million jobs were part-time (women accounted for 68.2% of these jobs). In full-time equivalents, the total volume of employment was 4.435 million jobs (women accounted for 40.5%). This was 82 700 full-time equivalents more than the previous year (+1.9%).
Secondary sector employment (industry and construction) rose in the 2nd quarter 2026 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, by 13 100 jobs (+1.2%) to 1.148 million jobs. The tertiary sector (services) had 98 700 (+2.2%) more jobs in the same period, with a total volume of 4.550 million jobs.
Upward short-term trend
Compared with the previous quarter, seasonally-adjusted employee numbers in enterprises grew by 30 700 jobs (+0.5%) in the 2nd quarter 2026. In the same quarter, there was an upward trend in the secondary sector, with 3000 additional jobs (+0.3%), while the tertiary sector saw an increase of 29 400 jobs (+0.6%).
Number of vacancies increased
Enterprises reported a total of 98 700 vacancies in the 2nd quarter 2026. Year on year, this was an increase of 2600 jobs (+2.7%). The number of vacancies in the secondary sector grew (+21.8%), while in the tertiary sector the number of vacancies fell (–2.4%). Vacancies represented 1.7% of all jobs, 2.1% of secondary sector jobs and 1.6% of tertiary sector jobs.
Finding skilled workers remains difficult
Weighted by the number of employees, 33.9% of enterprises reported difficulties in recruiting skilled workers in the 2nd quarter 2026. In comparison with the previous quarter, this is an increase of 0.4 percentage points. The labour market situation has tightened both in the secondary and tertiary sectors (+0.7 and +0.4 percentage points respectively).
Optimistic employment outlook
The share of enterprises announcing an increase in the number of jobs in the short-term was 11.3% in the 2nd quarter 2026 (11.0% in the previous quarter) and those planning to reduce their workforce represented 3.9% (4.8% in the previous quarter). The employment outlook indicator has risen compared with the previous quarter (1.04; +0.6%).
This press release and further information on the topic can be found on the FSO website.