Ticino: foreign workers on the rise (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell - Italian border workers in Switzerland are on the decline. - Double taxation makes Ticino less attractive. - However, Ticino remains advantageous for Italians in economic terms. ## Key facts - According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, Italian border workers in Switzerland are on the decline. - In the second quarter of 2025, there were 78,855 border crossers in Ticino, a slight increase compared to the previous quarter but a sharp decrease compared to the same period last year. - Italians working in Switzerland fell by 1.2% in one year. Double taxation makes Ticino less attractive, but Ticino remains advantageous for Italians in economic terms. Switzerland allows thousands of Como people to have a salary and a lifestyle that they would dream of in Italy. ## The data in detail - According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, in 2025, there were 78,855 Italian border workers in Switzerland, a slight increase compared to the previous quarter but a sharp decrease compared to the same period last year. - In 2024, there were 82,111 Italian border workers in Switzerland, so the decrease is 3.7%. - Italians working in Switzerland fell by 1.2% in one year, from 80,345 to 78,855. ## Double taxation Double taxation is an important issue for Italian border workers in Switzerland. According to Swiss law, frontier workers are subject to taxation in both Switzerland and Italy. This means that the - Check the possibility of having a higher lifestyle in Switzerland than in Italy. - Verify the possibility of access to high quality health and educational services in Switzerland. ## Conclusion Ticino remains an advantageous place for Italians in economic terms, despite double taxation. Switzerland offers a number of tax and social benefits to Italian border workers, such as the possibility of having a higher salary than what they earned in Italy, the possibility of having a higher lifestyle than what they had in Italy, the possibility of accessing high-quality health and educational services.

Operational details

Ticino: border crossers fall, but in Italian Switzerland there are countries with a strong presence of foreign workers Double taxation is a problem for Italian border crossers in Switzerland. However, Ticino remains advantageous for Italians in economic terms. Switzerland allows thousands of Como people to have a salary and a lifestyle that they would dream of in Italy. Data from the Federal Statistical Office confirm that Italian border workers in Switzerland are on the decline. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, in 2020, there were about 130,000 Italian border workers in Switzerland, while in 2022 this number dropped to about 120,000. Switzerland is one of the main destination countries for foreign workers, with a presence of Italian border workers in 30% of cases. Ticino, in particular, remains one of the most populous cantons in Switzerland. According to data from the municipality of Lugano, in 2020, there were about 70,000 Italian border workers in the canton, 25% of the total population. This number is falling, but Ticino still remains one of the main centres of attraction for foreign workers. Switzerland allows thousands of Como people to have a salary and a lifestyle that they would dream of in Italy. According to data from the municipality of Lugano, in 2020, Italian border workers in the canton had an average income of about 60,000 Swiss francs per year, 30% more than the national average. The problem of double taxation is a Ticino, in particular, is one of the main centres of attraction for foreign workers. According to data from the municipality of Lugano, in 2020, there were about 30,000 foreign workers in the canton, 10% of the total population. This number is increasing, thanks to the incentive measures adopted by Switzerland. Switzerland has also taken several measures to reduce the impact of immigration on residents. According to the federal law of 22 December 2010, Swiss residents can apply for reimbursement for expenses incurred for the immigration of foreign workers. This measure has been taken to reduce the impact of immigration on residents. Switzerland is one of the main destination countries for foreign workers. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, in 2020, there were about 1.4 million foreign workers in Switzerland, 25% of the total population. 70% of these foreign workers came from European countries. Ticino, in particular, is one of the main centres of attraction for foreign workers. According to data from the municipality of Lugano, in 2020, there were about 30,000 foreign workers in the canton, 10% of the total population. This number is increasing, thanks to the incentive measures adopted by Switzerland. Switzerland has also taken several measures to reduce the impact of immigration on residents. According to the federal law of 22 December 2010, Swiss residents can apply for a

Key points

Ticino: border crossers fall, but in Italian Switzerland there are countries with a strong presence of foreign workers

Italian border workers in Switzerland are on the decline, but Ticino remains advantageous for Italians in economic terms. According to data from the Federal Labour Office (Ufficio federale del lavoro), in 2022, the number of Italian frontier workers in Switzerland decreased by 10% compared to the previous year. However, Ticino continues to be one of the most attractive cantons for foreign workers, particularly Italians.

If you are an Italian worker in Switzerland, you can consult the salary calculator to get a more precise idea of your income. You can also visit the Revenue Agency's website to learn more about your tax options.

Ticino, a canton with a strong presence of foreign workers

Ticino is one of the most populous cantons in Switzerland, with a strong presence of foreign workers. According to 2022 data, 24% of Ticino's population is made up of foreigners, with a total of 126,000 people. Most of these workers come from Italy, with 74,000 people, followed by Romania (13,000), Serbia (8,000) and Albania (6,000).

Federal Immigration and Integration Act

The Federal Act on Immigration and Integration, which came into force in 2008, lays down the rules for the immigration and integration of foreign workers in Switzerland.

Source: espansionetv.it