Record number of cultural enterprises in Switzerland in 2024

Context

In brief

• Record number of cultural enterprises in Switzerland in 2024
• 27% growth compared to 2011
• Drop in employment in the cultural sector
• Decrease in the average size of enterprises

Key facts

• What: FSO cultural economy statistics
• When: September 11, 2026
• Where: Neuchâtel, Switzerland
• Who: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
• Amount: 69,441 active enterprises

In 2024, with nearly 70,000 active cultural enterprises in Switzerland, a new record was reached: a 27% increase compared to 2011. By comparison, over the same period, the number of enterprises in the economy as a whole increased by 16%. In 2024, however, the number of jobs in the cultural sector decreased, as did the size of cultural enterprises. These are some of the latest findings from the cultural economy statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

In 2024, there were 69,441 active enterprises in the cultural sector. This represents a 1.8% increase compared to the previous year and a new record since 2011, the first year the statistics were produced. Compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Switzerland had 7.2% more cultural enterprises and a quarter more than in 2011. Since 2011, the number of enterprises has increased by 15.6% in the general economy, meaning cultural enterprises are becoming increasingly numerous: while they accounted for 9.8% of total enterprises in 2011, the percentage rose to 10.5% in 2019 and 10.7% in 2024.

Cultural heritage and performing arts

The number of cultural enterprises showed very variable trends depending on the branch of activity. The increase recorded between 2023 and 2024 was evident in the cultural heritage sector (+3.8% of enterprises) and the performing arts (+3.3%), while it was particularly marked in the audiovisual and multimedia creative sectors (+6.5%) and advertising (+6.3%). In the artistic craftsmanship sector, the number of enterprises recorded a slight decrease (-0.6%), whereas the books and printing sector saw a sharp decline (-3.1%). In the latter sector, the number of enterprises in 2024 even dropped by 12.3% compared to 2019, keeping in mind that this figure had already been steadily declining since 2015. To learn more about the overall economic impact and revenue management, you can consult the tax return page.

Operational details

Despite the increase in the number of businesses, the number of jobs in the cultural sector decreased in 2024: with 241,025 jobs, a decline compared to the previous year (-0.9%) was recorded for the first time since 2020. Compared to the economy as a whole, where the number of jobs showed a more pronounced increase, a slow contraction of the cultural sector's share has been observed since 2011: in 2011, the cultural sector still accounted for 4.7% of total employment, by 2019 the percentage had dropped to 4.4%, and in 2024, despite the growing number of cultural enterprises, to 4.2%.

Cultural enterprises, which are growing in number, are therefore becoming increasingly smaller. While in 2011 a cultural enterprise had an average of 4.1 jobs, by 2024 the number had dropped to 3.5. Over the same period, full-time equivalents (FTEs) per cultural enterprise decreased from 2.9 to 2.3. During this period, both values remained substantially stable in the overall economy.

Comparative Analysis of Business Structure

The structural transformation highlighted by the data from the Federal Statistical Office shows how the entrepreneurial fabric of culture is evolving towards a pulverization into more agile entities but with lesser overall employment strength. The contraction of full-time equivalents (FTEs) from 2.9 to 2.3 per enterprise between 2011 and 2024 reflects a labor fragmentation dynamic that contrasts with the stability recorded by the Swiss economy as a whole.

The variation across different branches highlights divergent dynamics: while advertising and the audiovisual and multimedia sector are growing with marked increases of +6.3% and +6.5%, traditional sectors such as books and printing are undergoing prolonged structural reductions, culminating in a 12.3% drop compared to 2019. For those operating in these fields and needing to manage their financial situation or assess their income, it is useful to regularly check the cost of living in Switzerland to navigate the Swiss labor market.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

Reading the statistical data published by the Federal Statistical Office offers food for thought for cultural operators, professionals and cantonal and federal institutions. In order to accurately monitor its economic and social security position in a changing market context, it is advisable to analyse its income and social contributions through dedicated tools.

How to verify your professional position

For those who work in the cultural sector or in any other branch of the Swiss economy, salary management requires attention to deductions and contractual specificities. The use of official calculation tools allows you to accurately estimate your net salary and plan your financial situation.

If you want to accurately calculate your net salary based on your occupation and canton of residence, you can use our official tool available online. To start your audit now and better plan your finances, try the calcolatore stipendio.

Source: admin.ch