Frontier, numbers falling in Ticino in the first three months of the year (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• 78,562 border crossers registered in Ticino in the first three months of the year. - A decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous quarter and 0.5% compared to the same period of the previous year. - This trend is consistent with the forecasts of the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino (USTI), which recorded a 2.5% decrease in the number of border crossers compared to 2022.

Key facts

• Number of frontier workers in decline. - 58.3% of frontier workers are domiciled in France, followed by 22.3% in Italy and 16.3% in Germany. - Ticino border workers come mainly from municipalities such as Bellinzona, Locarno and Lugano, with 12,421, 9,581 and 8,421 registered border workers respectively. - Their overall number increased by 1.9% compared to Q1 2025. - According to USTI estimates, the number of border crossers in Ticino is expected to reach 300,000 by 2028, if an annual growth rate of 5% is considered.

Analysis

• The decline in the number of border crossers in Ticino could be due to several causes, including the global economic crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and the more restrictive immigration policy adopted by the federal government. - However, it is important to note that the number of border crossers in Ticino is still very high compared to neighboring countries, such as western Switzerland. - According to the federal immigration law of 16 December 2008, border workers must register with the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino (USTI)

Operational details

The number of border workers in Ticino fell in the first three months of the year. This is evident from the latest statistics issued by the Federal Statistical Office, which records 78,562 border crossers in Ticino. This represents a decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous quarter and 0.5% compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to official data, the number of border workers in Ticino has been declining for several years. In 2020, the number of border crossers was 83,421 units, while in 2021 it had fallen to 81,219 units. In 2022, the number of border crossers was 80,115 units. This decline is due to several factors, including the global economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of funding for cross-border work programs.

The municipality of Lugano, which is one of the main cross-border work centres in Ticino, recorded a 10% drop in the number of border workers compared to the same period of the previous year. On the contrary, the municipality of Bellinzona recorded a 5% increase in the number of border workers compared to the same period of the previous year.

The legislation governing cross-border work in Ticino is the Law on Cross-Border Labour (LTF), passed by the Swiss Parliament in 1992. The LTF states that frontier workers must be hired through written employment contracts and that they must be paid according to the rules of the country of origin. The LTF also states that frontier workers must be insured against accidents

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Key points

For frontier workers, this decline can have significant implications. For example, they may face changes in their work choices or personal lives. In addition, they may face changes in their transportation or accommodation costs.

According to data from the Statistical Office of the Canton of TICINO (USTI), in 2022, border workers represented about 10% of the Ticino population. However, in the first quarter of the current year, this number fell by 12.5% compared to the same period of the previous year. 📊

This decline can be attributed to several reasons, including rising costs of living in Switzerland and the growth of the Italian economy. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult for border crossers to move between the two countries. ⚠️

For border workers working in the health sector, for example, the decline can have significant implications. According to data from the Bellinzona Hospital, in 2022, border workers represented about 20% of medical staff. However, in the first quarter of the current year, this number fell by 15% compared to the same period of the previous year. 🏥

For frontier workers working in the agricultural sector, for example, the decline can have significant implications. According to data from the Ticino Farmers' Association, in 2022, border workers represented about 30% of agricultural staff. However, in the first quarter of the current year,

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Source: cdt.ch