Canton of St. Gallen: job search stable, unemployment falls

Context

TL;DR

• 11'251 people were looking for work at the end of September
• 5'768 were unemployed
• 3'955 vacancies were reported
• 754 employees were preregistered for short-time work

Key facts

• Period → end of September 2026
• Canton → St. Gallen
• Share of jobseekers → 3,9%
• Unemployment rate → 2,0%
• Short-time work for October 2026 → 31 companies, 754 employees
• Statistical source → www.statistik.sg.ch

At the end of September 2026, 11'251 people in the Canton of St. Gallen were registered with a RAV in search of work; 5'768 were counted as unemployed. The overall figure is 425 people higher than a year earlier, but 41 lower than at the end of August. The share of jobseekers is 3,9%, while that of the unemployed is 2,0%.

The cantonal picture

The cantonal figure therefore remains 3,9% above the level of a year earlier, while compared with the previous month the change is a contraction of 0,4%. The source describes this sideways phase as a trend that has lasted for several months. Switzerland is following a similar trend: at national level, the annual increase is 6,5% and the monthly change is 0,2%.

In terms of the available opportunities, at the end of September the RAVs of the Canton of St. Gallen recorded 3'955 vacancies: 706 more year on year and 24 more than in August. Around 65% came from occupations subject to the reporting obligation. The greatest demand concerned auxiliary workers, service occupations, saleswomen and salesmen, as well as craft and related occupations. annunci di lavoro can be consulted for the operational side of the job search.

For short-time work, the advance notifications for October 2026 concern 31 companies and 754 employees. The number of companies remained practically unchanged compared with the previous month, while the number of employees decreased by 342. The companies concerned belong to industry and manufacturing and come from all regions of the canton. The assessment is based on applications processed by the end of September.

The statistical information is published by the Amt für Daten und Statistik, referred to by the acronym DSSG. The release therefore presents people registered with the RAVs, vacancies and advance notifications of short-time work, with reference periods specified.

Operational details

Sectors, age groups and regions

The cantonal total is the result of different movements among sectors. The decline in industry and manufacturing coexists with specific increases in metalworking and vehicle manufacturing.

In the services sector, job seekers increase by 8,0%, with 534 more people, reaching 7'172. The most pronounced changes concern both administrative activities and services aimed at the population.

The age profile follows a distinct pattern. Among 15- to 24-year-olds, the number falls by 0,9%, from 1'253 to 1'242 people. In the 25-to-49 age group, it grows by 4,5%, from 6'335 to 6'617, while among people aged 50 and over, the increase is 4,8%, from 3'238 to 3'392.

The geographical distribution is not uniform either. In the Rheintal, job seekers decrease by 1,7%, and in Werdenberg by 1,3%. Below the cantonal average of 3,9% are Sarganserland, with an increase of 2,4%, and the St. Gallen electoral district, with 3,2%. Above the average are Rorschach, at 5,5%, Wil, at 6,1%, See-Gaster, at 9,7%, and Toggenburg, at 18%. To complement the sector analysis with the search for employers, aziende che assumono can be consulted.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

From data to consultation

The source provides several formats and separates the main indicators. For those who live or work in the Canton of St. Gallen, the most orderly approach is to choose the table based on the question to be verified, without conflating counts, rates and short-time work.

1. To analyze the development of unemployment, consult the detailed tabular presentation by sociodemographic characteristics and sectors. The portal makes the files available in xlsx and pdf formats.

2. For updated rates, use the dedicated table, also available in xlsx and pdf. This separation makes it possible to read the percentages as indicators distinct from the number of registered people.

3. For short-time work, consult the table relating to recorded Kurzarbeit. It should be read separately from the advance notices for October 2026, whose assessment is based on applications processed through the end of September.

4. For vacant jobs, use the Stada table indicated by the source. It is the specific reference provided for this data set.

5. For a broader view, the cantonal statistical portal also offers charts, tables and interactive databases on unemployed people and job seekers.

When reusing the numerical material, the source to cite is www.statistik.sg.ch. The statistical information published by the Amt für Daten und Statistik, DSSG, is subject to the statistical law of the Canton of St. Gallen, the Statistikgesetz des Kantons St.Gallen, sGS 146.1, and the related quality criteria. This sequence makes it possible to verify sector, age group, geographical area, rates, vacant jobs and short-time work separately, while retaining the reference period indicated in each table.

To connect the reading of the labor market to your own pay situation, use the calcolatore stipendio