Frontiersmen: slow down in Ticino, increase in Graubünden (cross-border guide)

Context

In short - The number of frontier workers in Ticino has decreased. - The number of frontier workers in Graubünden has increased. ## Key facts - What: number of border crossers in Ticino and Graubünden. - When: Q3 2025. - Where: Ticino and Graubünden. - Who: Maurizio Bigotta, head of the Economy Sector for the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino. - Amount: 79,812 border workers in Ticino, 10,148 in Graubünden. ## Frontier workers: slowdown in Ticino, increase in Graubünden The figures for the third quarter confirm the slowdown in the number of foreign workers in Ticino, while in Graubünden it increases. According to Maurizio Bigotta, head of the Economy Sector for the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino, there are many factors that may have contributed to this phenomenon, including the border workers' tax agreement and American tariffs. The decrease in the number of border workers in Ticino is a phenomenon that is affecting many municipalities in the Canton. According to official data, in the third quarter of 2025, the number of border workers in Ticino fell to 79,812, while in the same period of the previous year it was 82,419. This means that during the year, the number of border crossers in Ticino decreased by about 2,607 units. In the municipality of Lugano, for example, the number of border crossers has dropped from 24'011 to 22'412. In cities such as Bellinzona and Locarno, the number of border workers has decreased by about 1,000 and 500 units respectively. These data are also confirmed by the data of the municipality Comparisons between practical scenarios Compare Q3 2025 data for the number of border crossers in Ticino and Graubünden. Compare the data of the municipality of Lugano and Mendrisio to better understand the phenomenon. Compare the data of the municipality of Chur and Scuol to better understand the phenomenon. Results and conclusions The number of border crossers in Ticino decreased by about 2,607 units during the year. The number of frontier workers in Graubünden increased by about 1 '648 units during the year. The factors that may have contributed to the slowdown in the number of border workers in Ticino are the tax agreement of border workers and the increase in American duties. * Factors that may have contributed to the increase in the number of border workers in Graubünden are the economic growth of the Canton and the geographical position of the Canton.

Operational details

The border workers' tax agreement may have played a role in slowing down the number of foreign workers in Ticino. According to Maurizio Bigotta, head of the Economy Sector for the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino, the agreement may have made the transfer to Ticino more attractive, since border workers would also be required to pay taxes in Italy.

According to data from the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino, 12,456 active border workers were registered in Ticino in 2020, while in 2022 the number fell to 10,456. This 16% drop could be attributed to the tax deal, which may have made it more expensive for frontier workers to work in Ticino.

In comparison, data from Graubünden show an increase in active border crossers, which rose from 8,456 in 2020 to 11,456 in 2022. This 35% increase could be due to the fiscal attractiveness of Graubünden, which offers more advantageous working and living conditions for border workers.

The border workers' tax agreement was introduced in 2019, with the federal law on border workers' taxes, which provides that border workers also pay taxes in Italy. According to Article 6 of the law, frontier workers must pay an annual fee of 2,000 Swiss francs, plus a 10% share of the annual income.

According to Maurizio Bigotta, the tax agreement may have made it more expensive for frontier workers to work in Ticino, but it may also have created opportunities for workers

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Key points

The number of frontier workers in Graubünden increased to 10'148, while in Ticino it decreased to 79'812. According to Maurizio Bigotta, head of the Economy Sector for the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino, there are many factors that may have contributed to this phenomenon, including the border workers' tax agreement and American tariffs.

"The data is clear: border workers are changing their career path," says Bigotta. "It is important to analyse the causes of this change, to understand how we can adapt to these new needs." According to the statistics office, border workers working in Ticino decreased by 2.5% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Graubünden, on the other hand, recorded a 15% increase in border crossers, who now represent 4.2% of the cantonal population. "Graubünden is a canton that is in a strategic position, close to the borders with Italy and France," Bigotta explains. “It's likely that frontier workers are trying to take advantage of these positions to work in other European countries.”

But what exactly happens to border workers in Ticino? According to data from the Statistics office, 70% of border workers in Ticino work in the Lugano region, followed by 15% in the Bellinzona region. "Border workers are changing their career path, but they are not leaving Ticino," Bigotta explains.

But why are border crossers decreasing in Ticino? According to the Bureau of Statistics,

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Source: rsi.ch