Switzerland seeks nurses: 137,000 job postings for cross-border workers

Context

TL;DR

• Switzerland faces severe nursing shortage with 137,000 job postings in 2024.
• Ticino sees 25% increase in nurse job postings since 2020.
• Foreign nurses make up 38-42% of workforce in Ticino municipalities.

Key facts

• Nursing shortage: Switzerland has a critical shortage of specialized nurses.
• Job postings: Over 137,000 job postings in the nursing sector in 2024.
• Ticino increase: 25% increase in nurse job postings since 2020.
• Foreign nurses: A third of active nurses in Switzerland have foreign diplomas.
• Salary difference: Average nurse salary in Italy: €2,500; in Switzerland: CHF 4,500.
• Cross-border trend: First negative balance between entries and exits of cross-border workers.
• Lugano decrease: 15% decrease in cross-border workers in Lugano compared to previous year.
• Nurse deficit: Switzerland recorded a deficit of over 5,000 nurses in 2022.

Switzerland seeks nurses: 137,000 job postings for cross-border workers

Switzerland is facing a severe nursing shortage, significantly impacting its healthcare system. According to data from the Swiss Health Observatory (Obsan), the number of active nurses has reached an all-time high, but the shortage of specialized personnel remains critical. In 2024, over 137,000 job postings were published in the nursing sector, with a significant increase in pressure over the past five years. In the canton of Ticino alone, job postings for nurses increased by 25% compared to 2020, with a total of 3,456 postings in January 2024.

The canton of Ticino, due to its geographical location and economy closely tied to Italy, is particularly affected by this trend. The nursing shortage not only puts the quality of healthcare at risk but also the sustainability of the system. The reliance on foreign personnel has become structural: a third of active nurses in Switzerland have obtained their diploma abroad. In Ticino municipalities like Lugano and Bellinzona, the percentage of foreign nurses reaches 42% and 38% of the total, respectively.

In border cantons like Geneva, Neuchâtel, and Vaud, over half of the healthcare personnel are of foreign origin. This trend is partly due to neighboring countries' ability to retain their professionals with more competitive salaries and better working conditions. For example, in Italy, the average salary for a nurse is around €2,500 per month, while in Switzerland it is around CHF 4,500 (approximately €4,200).

To address the nursing shortage, healthcare companies in Ticino are adopting various strategies, including collaborating with vocational schools to increase the number of students enrolled in nursing courses, offering more competitive working conditions and higher salaries to attract and retain top talent, developing continuing education programs to improve the skills of existing personnel, and creating partnerships with Italian hospitals and clinics to attract qualified cross-border workers.

Operational details

Impact on cross-border workers and Ticino

The situation for cross-border workers in Switzerland is changing significantly. For the first time, a negative balance between entries and exits of cross-border workers has been recorded. Neighboring countries, including Italy, are investing in retaining their healthcare professionals with more attractive conditions. For example, Italy introduced a plan in 2022 to increase nurses' salaries by 10% by 2025, reducing the willingness to move or commute to Switzerland. In the canton of Ticino, for instance, the municipality of Lugano recorded a 15% decrease in cross-border workers compared to the previous year.

For Ticino, this trend reversal has significant implications. The EOC (Cantonal Hospital Corporation) and other hospitals in the region may face recruitment difficulties. The SUPSI and USI, educational institutions in the canton, may need to adjust their programs to train more specialized nurses. For example, SUPSI has already announced a 20% increase in training hours for nurses in the next academic year.

📊 According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, in 2022, Switzerland recorded a deficit of over 5,000 nurses compared to the national need. The situation is particularly critical in the canton of Ticino, where the need for nurses increased by 12% compared to the previous year.

⚠️ To address this challenge, Ticino and Swiss authorities will need to work together to implement effective policies. A possible operational checklist could include analyzing the need for healthcare personnel in the canton of Ticino, implementing training programs for specialized nurses, offering incentives to attract cross-border workers and foreign healthcare professionals, and collaborating with educational institutions to adjust study programs to the needs of the labor market.

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Key points

What it means for cross-border workers and Ticino

For cross-border workers in the healthcare sector in Switzerland, the current situation presents both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, the nursing shortage could mean more job opportunities; on the other, working conditions and salaries could become more competitive. For example, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office, in 2022, Switzerland recorded a shortage of over 5,000 nurses compared to the need, leading to a 10% salary increase in some cantons, such as Ticino, over the past two years.

For Ticino, it is essential to develop strategies to attract and retain healthcare professionals. This could include collaboration between educational institutions like SUPSI, hospitals like the Lugano Regional Hospital, and cantonal authorities to create more attractive training and career paths. A concrete example is the new training program for specialized nurses in intensive care, launched in 2023 by SUPSI in collaboration with the Lugano Regional Hospital.

Use our salary calculator to evaluate your job options as a cross-border worker in the healthcare sector in Switzerland. Check your job opportunities and plan your career with personalized tools.

Some Ticino municipalities, such as Lugano, Bellinzona, and Locarno, already offer incentives to attract healthcare professionals, such as rent contributions or transfer bonuses. For example, the municipality of Lugano offers a CHF 1,500 rent contribution for new arrivals working in the healthcare sector.

Swiss regulations also provide for tax relief for cross-border workers. As of January 1, 2024, cross-border workers in Switzerland can benefit from a tax deduction of CHF 5,000 for continuing education expenses.

Here's an operational checklist for cross-border workers who want to work in the healthcare sector in Switzerland: verify the required qualifications and training, use the salary calculator to evaluate job options, look for job opportunities in Swiss hospitals and clinics, take advantage of incentives offered by Ticino municipalities, and plan continuing education to benefit from tax relief.

Official sources: Job-Room job portal