Culture in Switzerland, record number of companies but jobs fall (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• Record number of cultural enterprises in Switzerland in 2024
• Growth higher than that of the total economy
• Decline in employment in the cultural sector
• Decrease in average company size

Key facts

• What: Trend in cultural enterprises and employment
• When: Year 2024
• Where: Switzerland
• Who: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
• Amount: 69,441 cultural enterprises in 2024

The Swiss economic and business landscape has reached a historic milestone in the cultural sector, although accompanied by employment dynamics that differ from the past. Never before in the Confederation has such a high number of enterprises operating in this field been recorded. During 2024, companies active in the cultural sector reached 69,441, setting a record figure that highlights particularly dynamic progression. This expansion proves to be superior to the growth recorded by the Swiss economy as a whole, outlining a continuously evolving and increasingly fragmented productive fabric.

FSO statistical data

Official details released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) allow for an analysis of the medium-term trend. Since 2011, the total number of cultural enterprises has marked an increase of 27%. Over the same period, the entire Swiss economy instead recorded a more modest increase, stopping at 16%. Consequently, the market share represented by cultural enterprises out of the total number of companies operating nationwide went from 9.8% recorded in the initial reference period up to 10.7% in 2024. This increase in business density reflects a profound structural transformation, which also involves professionals active in the cross-border region and local labor market dynamics.

Operational details

Despite the strong expansion in the number of companies, the Swiss cultural sector is facing a less favorable situation in terms of employment. During 2024, the total number of available jobs in the sector fell to 241,025, showing a 0.9% decrease compared to the previous year's data. This represents a significant trend reversal, as it is the first decline in employment levels recorded since 2020. This dynamic is explained by the very nature of recent business growth, characterized by the birth of new entities that are smaller on average than in the past.

Business size and economic weight

Analyzing the organizational structure, it clearly emerges that cultural enterprises have progressively become smaller. In 2011, each individual company employed an average of 4.1 workers, while in 2024 this average value dropped to 3.5. A similar decline is also observed when calculating full-time equivalents per enterprise, which decreased from 2.9 to 2.3 units. This dimensional contraction is not reflected in the rest of the Swiss economy, where a similar reduction in the average size of companies has not been witnessed. Consequently, over the long term, the overall weight of culture on the country's total employment has also decreased: the sector indeed accounted for 4.7% of all jobs in 2011, a percentage that dropped to 4.2% in 2024.

…

Key points

The ongoing transition towards digitalization and multimedia is profoundly modifying the skills required in the Swiss cultural and economic sector. For professionals and workers operating or intending to operate between neighboring Italy and Switzerland, monitoring the evolution of these emerging sectors is essential to guide their professional choices. The progressive digitalization of advertising and audiovisual activities requires highly specialized profiles, while the contraction of traditional print media imposes a reflection on long-term employment prospects in historical publishing sectors.

Tax and salary verifications

Labor market evolution and the creation of new micro-enterprises in the cultural sector entail the need to correctly manage one's contribution and tax position. Those who work or intend to start an independent or subordinate activity in Switzerland must pay particular attention to withholding taxes, mandatory social security contributions, and wage differences between various cantons. Accurately assessing one's net salary and the impact of current regulations allows for better planning of cross-border professional activities without surprises.

Useful tools and calculators

To analyze income in detail, correctly estimate the tax burden, and understand the impact of taxes on earnings derived from collaborations or employment in Switzerland, available simulation tools can be used. For a precise and updated estimate of wages and tax burdens, check your economic situation now using the salary calculator.

Source: rsi.ch