Border workers in Ticino: data for the first quarter of 2026 (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Ticino: 78,562 border crossers in the first quarter of 2026
• Quarterly decrease of 0.2% in the Italian-speaking Canton
• Total Switzerland: 413,000 G permits, +1.9% on an annual basis
• France main country of origin with 58.3%

Key facts

• What: Border statistical survey (G permits)
• When: First quarter 2026
• Where: Switzerland and Canton Ticino
• Who: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
• Amount: 78,562 border crossers in Ticino
• Change: -0.2% compared to the previous quarter

The new data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) outlines a divergent situation between the Ticino labour market and the rest of the Confederation. In the first quarter of 2026, the number of active border workers in Ticino amounted to 78,562 units, showing a decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous quarter. If the trend is observed on an annual basis, the contraction is even more marked, standing at -0.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This data indicates a stabilization phase, or alternatively a slight decline, with regard to the use of foreign labour in the Italian-speaking Canton.

The contrast with the national dynamic

Contrary to what was observed in Ticino, the Swiss national landscape shows a different vitality. At the end of March 2026, the total number of foreign workers holding a G permit active in Switzerland reached 413,000. This figure represents an increase

Operational details

The analysis of the data released by the UST offers significant insights into the occupational dynamics that influence the cost of living and the labor market in Switzerland. The contraction recorded in Ticino must be interpreted in light of the specificities of the local market, characterized by a strong presence of Italian workers. While at the national level the increase in G permits reflects a labor demand that is still sustained, the situation in Ticino suggests a moment of reflection for local companies. It is useful to monitor how these variations can affect, in the medium term, the use of collective labor contracts and the pressure on cantonal minimum wages. Companies active in the Canton must confront a labor supply that, although remaining high, no longer follows the trend of constant growth observed in recent years.

Useful planning tools

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

Key points

For those who work in Switzerland, the management of their professional and tax position requires constant attention to current regulations. Regardless of employment statistics, each border crossing must ensure that it complies with the provisions of the New Frontier Agreement, in force from 1 January 2024. Regulatory compliance is the first step to ensure the safety of your use and the correct application of taxation at source, which is withheld directly in Switzerland. It is essential to remember that Switzerland is not an EU/EEA member and that double taxation conventions, such as the one of 9 December 1976, continue to represent the framework for the management of the tax credit for Italian workers.

Operating procedures and tools

For those who wish to optimise their financial situation, the correct procedure provides for a periodic verification of their paycheck and contributions paid (AVS/AI/IPG, AD, LAINF, LPP). If you have any doubts about the correct application of the rates or deductions, you can consult the information documents made available by the cantonal tax administrations. For a precise management of your income, it is always useful to have a calcolatore stipendio on hand that allows you to simulate the net according to the deductions provided for by federal law. In addition, for workers who have to manage their own pension, it is

Source: comozero.it