Statent 2024: 5.68 million jobs in Switzerland (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• 5.68 million jobs in 2024
• Growth of 0.6% compared to 2023
• 810,000 jobs created since 2011

Key facts

• What: Structural statistics of STATENT companies
• When: 20 August 2026
• Where: Neuchâtel and all of Switzerland
• Who: Federal Statistical Office UST
• Amount: 810,000 jobs

On 20 August 2026, the Federal Statistical Office UST published the updated data relating to the structural business statistics statent, providing a detailed picture of the trend in employment and the national economic fabric. During 2024, the Swiss economy accounted for about 5.68 million jobs, registering a growth of 0.6% compared to the previous year. This positive percentage change represents the second lowest recorded since 2011, confirming a slowdown in overall employment dynamics. Looking at the period between 2011 and 2024, a total of over 810,000 jobs were created in Switzerland, a significant achievement driven almost entirely by the tertiary sector.

Business sector analysis

In 2024, just over 78% of the 649,000 companies surveyed in Switzerland carried out their main activity in the tertiary sector, focused on services. At the same time, the secondary sector, which includes industry, arts and crafts, accounted for just over 14% of total enterprises. Finally, the companies active in the primary sector,

Operational details

The analysis of the economic branches highlights profound structural transformations in the composition of the Swiss productive fabric. In 2024, there was a prevalence of companies active in health services activities, which with about 11% of the total represented the branch with the largest number of companies in Switzerland. Immediately after were the other service activities with 9.2% and agriculture, forestry and fisheries with 7.6%. From a purely employment point of view, the branches with the highest number of employees were public administration with 8.7% of total jobs, health services activities with 8.5% and retail trade with 5.9%.

Since 2011, employment trends have shown divergent paths between the various economic sectors. Among the most dynamic branches, non-residential social assistance stands out, which marked an increase of almost 58.9%, equal to 47,000 more jobs, ancillary activities of financial services and insurance activities with a growth of 55.9%, equal to 32,000 jobs, and artistic, entertainment and amusement activities with a remarkable +54.3% corresponding to 38,000 units. On the other hand, the branches that registered the greatest decline include the manufacture of electrical equipment, down 23.8% with 9,000 jobs lost, the wood and paper industry and printing with a liability of 21.2% equal to 16,000 jobs, and postal services and

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Key points

The territorial distribution of employment growth highlights deep regional disparities. In 2024, the Swiss economy created a total of 36,151 new jobs, corresponding to the aforementioned 0.6% increase. However, this growth did not occur uniformly across the national territory. The Lemanic region recorded a 1.2% progress, matching Central Switzerland, which also marked 1.2%. Conversely, the situation in the Espace Mittelland appears stagnant, with a mere 1,848 additional jobs equating to a timid 0.2% growth. The only significant negative exception among the Major Regions is Ticino, which did not take part in the general growth observed in the rest of the country. This dynamic is also reflected in the cantonal data released by the FSO.

At the cantonal level, the most consistent progressions were recorded in the Cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden with a +4% equal to 1,102 units, Zug with a +2.6% equal to 3,418 jobs, and Nidwalden with a +2.3% equal to 578 jobs. Other cantons showed more contained variations, such as Valais and Basel-Stadt. Meanwhile, the national economic fabric continues to polarize around two parallel phenomena: the proliferation of micro-structures and the strengthening of the position of large companies. Large enterprises with at least 250 employees account for over 2.2 million jobs and during 2024 generated over three-quarters of the overall employment increase. To analyze the impact of this data on your professional, economic, or business path, consult the salary calculator available on the platform.

To explore the job opportunities offered by the Swiss economic hub, you can also consult the section dedicated to hiring companies or explore job offers in the job listings section.

Source: admin.ch