Labour shortage in Graubünden: impact on businesses (cross-border guide)
44% of Graubünden companies report serious difficulty finding qualified staff, while 75% rate their economic situation as good or very good.
Contesto
In brief - 44% of companies consider the shortage of qualified labour a major challenge - 75% of businesses rate their economic situation good or very good - 56% report difficulty finding buildable land or rental areas - Two thirds expect stable development until 2026 ## Key facts - What: Survey on labour shortage and economic situation - When: 24 April – 13 May 2024 - Where: Canton of Graubünden - Who: Regional economy trade association (Graubünden Union of Crafts, Chamber of Commerce, HotellerieSuisse Graubünden) - Sample: 324 participating companies (about 10% of firms with more than 10 employees) - Percentage: 44% report major difficulty in finding qualified staff - Percentage2: 75% rate their situation good or very good - Percentage3: 56% encounter difficulty obtaining buildable land The regional economy trade association, which brings together the Graubünden Union of Crafts, the Chamber of Commerce and HotellerieSuisse Graubünden, launched a survey among companies based in the canton. The survey, conducted from 24 April to 13 May 2024, collected responses from 324 firms, corresponding to roughly 10 % of all enterprises with more than ten employees. The majority of respondents (75 %) rate their economic situation good or very good, a figure that indicates a certain resilience despite labour market pressures. However, the labour shortage remains the most pressing issue: 44 % of companies consider the difficulty of finding qualified personnel large or very large, a clear improvement compared with 62 % in 2022. The survey shows that the most pronounced shortage concerns employees with higher and specialised training, followed by young apprentices, managers and unskilled workers. In addition to the demand for skills, firms point to the political context (41 %) and...
Dettagli operativi
Implications for the National Economy The trends revealed by the Graubünden survey reflect a challenge felt across Switzerland: the difficulty in sourcing highly qualified workers. While the share of companies reporting severe shortages has decreased (from 62% in 2022 to 44% in 2024), signaling slight improvement, the figure remains substantial. If the situation stabilizes, sectors most affected – particularly construction, finance, and tourism – could maintain their investment plans through 2026. Conversely, more cautious sectors like manufacturing, retail, and automotive may face delays in expansion projects due to persistent unmet demand for skilled labor. With 56% of companies reporting limited access to buildable land, the ability to launch new real estate projects or expand production facilities remains constrained. This could lead to slower growth in job creation, creating a vicious cycle between labor shortages and reduced economic capacity. The call from nearly 70% of businesses to reduce bureaucracy and 49% to improve spatial planning indicates that firms see regulatory simplification as a potential growth catalyst. If cantonal and federal authorities address these demands, faster building permit approvals could accelerate industrial or residential construction, boosting job creation. From a policy perspective, short-term priorities should focus on strengthening vocational training and apprenticeship programs to address skill gaps. Without targeted interventions, companies may remain dependent on cross-border workers or international talent, potentially undermining the canton’s – and by extension Switzerland’s – competitiveness. ### Scenario 1 – Timely Political Intervention If authorities streamline bureaucracy and simplify building permits by 2025, comp...
Punti chiave
What businesses and workers can do 1. Internal needs analysis – Companies should carry out a detailed review of the skills required for each department, identifying the most critical gaps. An assessment template can be downloaded from our website in the resources for businesses section. 2. Collaboration with training institutions – Set up agreements with vocational schools and cantonal universities to create targeted apprenticeship programmes. This allows training of young apprentices directly within the company, reducing the time needed to find qualified staff. 3. Use of tax incentives – Check with your tax adviser the possibility of accessing any incentives for creating new jobs or for internal training, in line with cantonal policies aimed at supporting employment. 4. Simplifying hiring processes – Digitalise application and onboarding procedures, cutting bureaucratic delays. Adopting online platforms can speed up the matching between supply and demand. 5. Searching for buildable land – If expansion is needed, contact municipal authorities to consult territorial development plans. Participating in local round‑tables can facilitate access to available areas. 6. Continuous labour‑market monitoring – Subscribe to specialised newsletters and regularly consult the salary calculator to verify the competitiveness of offered wages against the national average. ### Practical steps for workers - Update your CV with the latest certifications and the digital skills demanded by the market. - Enrol in training courses offered by Chambers of Commerce or federal agencies, especially in sectors where demand is highest (technical maintenance, engineering, tourism). - Use the job listings portal to find offers that match your profile and apply directly. ### Upcoming developments up...
Punti chiave
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of companies consider the lack of labour a major challenge?
- 44 % of the companies surveyed in the 2024 poll report that the difficulty in finding qualified staff is large or very large.
- How high is the rating of the economic situation of Ticino firms?
- 75 % of firms rate their current situation as good or very good, according to the results collected between 24 April and 13 May 2024.
- What are the main policy requests of companies?
- 69 % of companies want a reduction in bureaucracy, while 49 % call for an improvement in territorial planning and the building permit regime.