What are the apprenticeship profiles offered by SECO?

SECO offers AFC apprenticeships in three specialisations: trade clerks, digital business developers and IT specialists. The agency also welcomes trainees from trade schools (SMC traineeships). All pathways allow young people to put knowledge into practice, take on concrete responsibilities, and work on federal agency projects.

How many employees does SECO have and where are they located?

SECO has more than 900 employees and executives distributed in three locations in Switzerland. The agency also has about 30 professionals posted to Swiss representations in various countries, expanding the organizational network internationally. This geographical structure offers employees development opportunities both nationally and globally.

What are the characteristics of the DRY working environment?

SECO emphasizes a stimulating work environment where responsibility, open-mindedness and personal initiative are valued. The agency offers employees the opportunity to contribute concretely to Swiss economic policy, operating in a strategic and decision-making context that goes beyond ordinary administration. The international network allows different experiences at the federal and diplomatic-commercial level.

Does SECO offer opportunities for translators?

Yes. SECO's language services have a network of freelance translators working in the official Swiss and other languages. This represents an opportunity for external collaboration for professionals specialising in translation and interpreting who wish to work with a Swiss federal agency.

How to apply for the SECO? What are the next steps?

Open positions are published on the website www.seco.admin.ch in the section dedicated to recruitment. Check the portal to check deadlines, specific requirements and how to send the documentation (CV, motivation letter, certificates). Prepare the documentation according to the criteria indicated in the call and submit the application following the agency's online procedures.

Working at SECO: apprenticeship and internship opportunities (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 9 September 2026

Modern workspace in a Swiss federal administration office with employees collaborating in bright contemporary offices

SECO, a federal agency with over 900 employees, offers AFC apprenticeships, SMC internships and university internships. Discover the profiles you are looking for and how to apply.

Context

In brief

SECO counts over 900 employees distributed across three Swiss offices plus ~30 detached abroad
Offers AFC apprenticeships, SMC internships and university stages in stimulating environments
Sought profiles: commercial employees, digital business developers, IT specialists

Key facts

Who: SECO (State Secretariat for the Economy), Swiss federal agency
What: AFC apprenticeship, SMC internship, university stage
Where: Three offices in Switzerland + approximately 30 employees detached abroad
Workforce: Over 900 employees and managers
Sought profiles: Commercial employees, digital business developers, IT specialists
Mandate: Economic policy, international trade, national labor market

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SECO, the State Secretariat for the Economy of the Federal Department of the Economy, is among the principal employers in the Swiss federal public sector. With over 900 employees and managers distributed across three offices on the national territory and approximately 30 professionals detached to Swiss representations abroad, the agency represents a significant employment hub for those intending to begin or develop a career in the federal economic and administrative sector.

What opportunities does SECO offer

SECO has structured a multi-faceted recruitment path that includes three main channels of access. AFC apprenticeships are divided into three specializations: commercial employees, digital business developers and IT sector specialists. The agency also welcomes trainees from commercial schools (SMC programs — company internships). Candidates with university education (students or recent graduates) can apply for stages of varying duration. According to SECO, interns 'put their knowledge into practice, assume various responsibilities and work on a series of concrete projects' within the agency.

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Operational details

SECO in the Swiss Federal Labor Landscape

SECO is not an isolated employer. It is part of the Swiss federal apparatus which, together with dozens of other offices and agencies, manages economic, commercial, labor, tax, and social security policy. Work at SECO has a peculiarity: it is not operational in the traditional sense (e.g., management of public services directly serving citizens), but rather strategic and decision-making. Those working at SECO contribute to the definition of policies that impact Swiss competitiveness in international markets, the national labor market (unemployment, job protection, collective agreements), bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, and economic regulation at the federal level. This distinguishes SECO from many other employers: it does not perform ordinary administrative functions, but actively contributes to 'shaping economic policy', as the institution itself declares.

Geographic Network and International Opportunities

SECO has three offices in Switzerland and a network of approximately 30 people deployed in various countries. This means that a SECO employee has concrete opportunities to develop international experience by working at Swiss trade missions, diplomatic representations, or multilateral agencies. For an apprentice or intern, this represents a differential compared to many other training paths: experience is not limited to a single office, but can expand to the international level, acquiring global business skills.

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Key points

How to Apply to SECO

The application procedure for positions at Swiss federal agencies follows precise steps. The first step is to consult the official SECO website (www.seco.admin.ch) where open positions, selection criteria, and application forms are published. Once you have identified the opportunity of interest, it is necessary to verify the specific requirements: each AFP apprenticeship profile has its own prerequisites (e.g., for digital developers: problem-solving skills; for IT: basic programming or IT competencies). Subsequently, prepare the required documentation — typically CV, cover letter, school certificates (for apprentices) or university diploma (for interns). Finally, submit your application following the procedures outlined in the published call for applications.

Freelance Translators and Complementary Opportunities

SECO also has a network of freelance translators working in Swiss official languages (Italian, French, German) and other languages. The agency's language services provide various specialized services and maintain constant contact with translation and interpreting professionals. If you are specialized in translation and wish to collaborate with a federal agency, this channel represents an opportunity for external collaboration. Details about this network are available from SECO's language services.

Next Steps

If you are interested in a career in the Swiss federal economic sector, do not wait: the public labor market is competitive, but SECO represents a concrete opportunity for placement in a strategic context. Consult our salary calculator to estimate remuneration in the Swiss federal public sector, and discover other positions on the job opportunities portal to compare with offers in the private and cantonal sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the apprenticeship profiles offered by SECO?: SECO offers AFC apprenticeships in three specialisations: trade clerks, digital business developers and IT specialists. The agency also welcomes trainees from trade schools (SMC traineeships). All pathways allow young people to put knowledge into practice, take on concrete responsibilities, and work on federal agency projects.
How many employees does SECO have and where are they located?: SECO has more than 900 employees and executives distributed in three locations in Switzerland. The agency also has about 30 professionals posted to Swiss representations in various countries, expanding the organizational network internationally. This geographical structure offers employees development opportunities both nationally and globally.
What are the characteristics of the DRY working environment?: SECO emphasizes a stimulating work environment where responsibility, open-mindedness and personal initiative are valued. The agency offers employees the opportunity to contribute concretely to Swiss economic policy, operating in a strategic and decision-making context that goes beyond ordinary administration. The international network allows different experiences at the federal and diplomatic-commercial level.
Does SECO offer opportunities for translators?: Yes. SECO's language services have a network of freelance translators working in the official Swiss and other languages. This represents an opportunity for external collaboration for professionals specialising in translation and interpreting who wish to work with a Swiss federal agency.
How to apply for the SECO? What are the next steps?: Open positions are published on the website www.seco.admin.ch in the section dedicated to recruitment. Check the portal to check deadlines, specific requirements and how to send the documentation (CV, motivation letter, certificates). Prepare the documentation according to the criteria indicated in the call and submit the application following the agency's online procedures.