Which sectors have the highest unemployment rates among recent graduates?

According to UST data, among bachelor's degrees at professional university schools, the most affected sector is Music, theatre and other artistic disciplines with 10.8%, followed by Design (10%) and Applied Linguistics (9.4%). Among university master's degrees, economics and humanities and social sciences both reach 8.5%, while the interdisciplinary sector registers 8.6%. These data reflect the specific difficulties of some paths in the Swiss labour market.

How many graduates struggle to find the job they want?

The UST survey shows a significant increase. Among university master's degrees, 44.1% of graduates in 2024 found it difficult to find a job in line with their professional aspirations (up from 30.0% in 2022). For sup bachelor's degrees, the share rose to 36.9% (from 24.2% in 2022). Only high pedagogical schools maintain a stable share around 12.0%, indicating a more favourable situation for pedagogists.

How has the economic situation affected job search among graduates?

In 2025, 42.5% of university master's degrees and 37.9% of sup bachelor's degrees cited the economic situation as a reason for difficulty in finding work, an increase compared to 2023 when only 23.8% of master's degrees and 19.5% of bachelor's degrees indicated it. This significant change reflects the tightening of economic conditions and the increased caution of employers in hiring, although lack of professional experience remains the first reason cited.

Unemployment rising among graduates in 2025 (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 27 August 2026

Young graduate analyzing unemployment data in a modern Swiss office with city view in the background

The Federal Statistical Office notes unemployment growth among Swiss recent graduates from 2023 to 2025. Master's degrees: from 3.9% to 6.4%. Analysis by field of study.

Context

In a nutshell

UNI Master: unemployment from 3.9% to 6.4% (2023–2025)
Bachelor SUP: increase from 3.4% to 4.9% over the same period
Music, Design and IT sectors most affected (10.8%, 10%, 9.4%)
Economic situation increasingly cited as an obstacle (42.5% vs 23.8%)

Key facts

What: UST survey on ILO unemployment among university and professional graduates
When: August 27, 2026 (data 2023–2025)
Where: Universities, professional university schools, high Swiss pedagogical schools
Who: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
Increase: UNI Master from 3.9% to 6.4%, sup Bachelor from 3.4% to 4.9%

On 27 August 2026, the Federal Statistical Office published the results of a survey on unemployment according to the standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) among graduates of universities, vocational colleges and higher educational schools in Switzerland. The picture that emerges is worrying: between 2023 and 2025 unemployment rates increased significantly, signaling employment that is increasingly difficult for recent graduates to find.

The data reveal a heterogeneous vulnerability depending on the level of training. Those who obtained a master's degree from a university saw their unemployment rate rise from 3.9% to 6.4%, an increase of more than two and a half percentage points. Bachelor's degree holders at a university vocational school (SUP) registered an increase from 3.4% to 4.9%,

Operational details

The employment crisis is also spreading in sectors that until recently were considered relatively safe. Comparing the 2022 and 2024 graduate cohorts, the ILO unemployment rate more than doubled in technical sciences for master's degrees, from 2.1% to 4.8%. Even more dramatic was the increase in Economic Sciences: from 3.5% to 8.5%, a growth of almost five percentage points. The Humanities and Social Sciences increased from 5.1% to 8.5%, while the Exact and Natural Sciences increased from 4.5% to 6.8%.

Among sup bachelor's degrees, the Technical and IT sector saw the rate rise from 3.0% to 6.4%, practically doubling. In the Economy and Services sector, the increase was from 4.5% to 6.4%. These data suggest that the general economic evolution of Switzerland in 2024–2025 has transversely touched different areas of specialization, compromising the competitive advantage they previously enjoyed.

The challenge of employment meets aspirations

It's not just pure unemployment. The proportion of graduates who report difficulties in finding a job in line with their professional aspirations has increased considerably. Among university master's degrees, it went from 30.0% to 44.1% between the 2022 and 2024 cohorts. For sup bachelor's degrees, the figure rose from 24.2% to 36.9%. Higher pedagogical schools are an exception, with a stable quota around

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Key points

For those who will graduate in the coming months and will have to face the job market, these UST data provide crucial information for planning a conscious insertion strategy. The first lesson is to diversify job search opportunities: specializing in Technical, IT, Economics or Technical Sciences offers employment, but with growing unemployment margins that require additional preparation.

What does this concretely mean? If you have obtained a diploma in one of the high-risk sectors (Music, Design, Applied Linguistics), the market asks you to highlight any work experience gained during your studies: internships, apprenticeships, temporary jobs, real-world projects. The search for work 'suited to aspirations' becomes a challenge: keep track of positions that truly reflect your goals, to avoid accepting the first job just to escape unemployment.

How to navigate the job search

Contact the employment center: Register with the cantonal employment and integration office as soon as you graduate. Registration as unemployed, if necessary, is the first step to access official support and receive information about your job search.

Invest in continuous education: If your sector shows high unemployment rates, consider specialization courses, certifications or master's degrees that increase your competitiveness. The data show that those who remain 'just graduated' without experience face significant barriers.

Participate actively: Access job fairs, industry events and cantonal recruitment platforms. Many contracts occur through direct contact, not passive application.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which sectors have the highest unemployment rates among recent graduates?: According to UST data, among bachelor's degrees at professional university schools, the most affected sector is Music, theatre and other artistic disciplines with 10.8%, followed by Design (10%) and Applied Linguistics (9.4%). Among university master's degrees, economics and humanities and social sciences both reach 8.5%, while the interdisciplinary sector registers 8.6%. These data reflect the specific difficulties of some paths in the Swiss labour market.
How many graduates struggle to find the job they want?: The UST survey shows a significant increase. Among university master's degrees, 44.1% of graduates in 2024 found it difficult to find a job in line with their professional aspirations (up from 30.0% in 2022). For sup bachelor's degrees, the share rose to 36.9% (from 24.2% in 2022). Only high pedagogical schools maintain a stable share around 12.0%, indicating a more favourable situation for pedagogists.
How has the economic situation affected job search among graduates?: In 2025, 42.5% of university master's degrees and 37.9% of sup bachelor's degrees cited the economic situation as a reason for difficulty in finding work, an increase compared to 2023 when only 23.8% of master's degrees and 19.5% of bachelor's degrees indicated it. This significant change reflects the tightening of economic conditions and the increased caution of employers in hiring, although lack of professional experience remains the first reason cited.