Employment growth slows in 3rd quarter 2025
Neuchâtel, 24.11.2025 — In the 3rd quarter 2025, total employment (excluding agriculture) in Switzerland rose by just 0.1% compared with the same quarter of the previous year (seasonally adjusted, –0.1% over previous quarter). Enterprises reported 10.5% fewer vacancies than a year earlier, and difficulties recruiting skilled workers have continued to decline. Employment prospects remained stable, despite enterprises’ muted expectations. These are some of the latest findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Enterprises in Switzerland reported 5.532 million jobs in the 3rd quarter 2025. This corresponds to an increase of 2800 (+0.1%) jobs year on year. Women made up 46.6% of the workforce. At the end of the 3rd quarter 2025, 2.283 million employees worked part-time (women accounted for 69.2% of these jobs). In full-time equivalents, the total volume of employment was 4.320 million jobs (women accounted for 40.6%). This was 3000 full-time equivalents fewer than a year ago (–0.1%).
Secondary sector employment (industry and construction) fell in the 3rd quarter 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, by 7600 jobs (–0.7%) to 1.132 million jobs. The tertiary sector (services) had 10 400 (+0.2%) more jobs in the same period, with a total volume of 4.400 million jobs.
Downward short-term trend
Compared with previous quarter, seasonally-adjusted employee numbers in enterprises fell by 3300 jobs (–0.1%) in the 3rd quarter 2025. Employment in the secondary sector thus fell by 2100 jobs
(–0.2%) within one quarter, while the number of jobs in tertiary sector remained stable compared with the previous quarter.
Number of vacancies declined
Enterprises reported a total of 88 400 vacancies in the 3rd quarter 2025. Year on year, this was a decline of 10 300 jobs (–10.5%). Both the secondary (–13.4%) and tertiary sectors (–9.6%) had fewer vacancies. Vacancies represented 1.6% of all jobs, 1.8% of secondary sector jobs and 1.5% of tertiary sector jobs.
Skilled workers easier to find
Weighted by number of jobs, difficulties in the recruitment of skilled workers declined in the 3rd quarter 2025 in comparison with the same quarter of the previous year (36.3%; –1.7 percentage points).
Cautious employment prospects
The share of enterprises announcing an increase in the number of jobs in the short-term was 9.8% in the 3rd quarter 2025 (11% in the same quarter of the previous year) and those planning to reduce their workforce represented 5.4% (5.1% in previous year's quarter). The employment outlook indicator has fallen (–0.9%) compared with that of the previous year, but remains positive (1.02).
This press release and further information on this topic can be found on the FSO website.