What exactly measures the unemployment rate of the UST/BFS for recent graduates?

The Federal Statistical Office measures unemployment one year after graduation, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) method. The data photographs those who, 12 months after graduation, have not yet found a job. It does not include those who have continued their studies, have not looked for a job or have withdrawn from the market.

Why did unemployment rise so rapidly between 2023 and 2025, especially in the economy (from 3.5% to 8.5%)?

The UST/BFS data does not specify the underlying causes. The increase reflects the overall evolution of the Swiss labour market over the period, probably influenced by macroeconomic factors, sectoral dynamics and changes in labour demand for different job profiles.

If I study design in a sup, will I have a 10% chance of unemployment?

10.0% is the national average unemployment rate for sup graduates in design measured one year after graduation. It is not an individual prediction — it depends on you: quality of skills, professional network, choice of institution, research region and research timing.

Where do I access detailed UST/BFS data for my canton and program?

The official database of the Federal Statistical Office (www.bfs.admin.ch) allows filters by institution, sector, canton and academic year. It is the main source for precise consultations and to compare rates between different training courses.

Is this unemployment rate the same as the general unemployment talked about in the media?

No. The UST/BFS measures the unemployment of recent graduates (a specific cohort at 1 year after graduation), while the general unemployment data reports the entire working population. Recent graduates tend to look for work intensively and have rates related to the transition from the training system to the labour market.

For graduates, unemployment increases after graduation (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 27 August 2026

Swiss labor statistics showing rising unemployment rates among university and professional graduates between 2023 and 2025.

The Federal Statistical Office announces an increase in unemployment among recent graduates: UNI master's from 3.9% to 6.4%, sup bachelor's from 3.4% to 4.9% between 2023-2025.

Context

In a nutshell

Rising unemployment for UNI and SUP graduates between 2023 and 2025
Master UNI: from 3.9% to 6.4%; Bachelor SUP: from 3.4% to 4.9%
Music/theatre and design: the most affected sectors (10.8% and 10.0%)
Medicine and health: the most protected (1.6%-1.7%)

Key facts

What: Increase in unemployment among university and professional graduates, 1 year after graduation
When: Data between 2023 and 2025, announced today by the UST/BFS
Where: Switzerland (nationwide)
Who: Federal Statistical Office (FSO/BFS)
UNI Master: From 3.9% (2023) to 6.4% (2025)
Bachelor SUP: From 3.4% (2023) to 4.9% (2025)
Lowest rate: High pedagogical schools (0.7%)
Most critical sectors: Music/theatre (10.8%), design (10.0%)

The Federal Statistical Office today announced an increase in unemployment among holders of university and professional degrees, measured one year after obtaining the degree. This indicator is a crucial thermometer for measuring the effectiveness of Swiss training courses in preparing young people for entry into the labour market. Between 2023 and 2025, unemployment rates (calculated according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) method) grew for both University Masters (UNI) and bachelor's degrees from vocational colleges (SUPs).

For UNI masters, the rate rose from 3.9% to 6.4%. For sup bachelor's degrees, the increase was from 3.4% to 4.9%. In both cases, it is

Operational details

The increase in unemployment among young graduates is particularly relevant when examining scientific and professional sectors traditionally considered 'solid'. Among university master's degrees, unemployment in technical sciences has more than doubled, rising from 2.1% to 4.8%. Even more marked is the increase in the economic sector: the rate has risen from 3.5% to 8.5%, an increase of over 140% in just two years. This phenomenon suggests that the Swiss labor market is experiencing more rigorous selection even in historically solid sectors, where a simple degree no longer guarantees automatic placement. The contraction is evident: anyone thinking of graduating in economics expecting a smooth path will encounter a very different reality compared to the past.

What do these numbers mean for students

For those choosing or completing a university or professional path, UST/BFS data provide valuable information about real employment prospects, measured by the cohort of graduates who have already completed their studies. An unemployment rate of 10.8% in music and theater means that just over 1 in 10 among graduates remains without employment one year after completing their studies. This rate is considerably higher than that of social work graduates (1.5%), where almost everyone finds work within a few months of obtaining their degree.

…

Key points

The consultation of UST/BFS data is the first concrete step for those who must choose their own training path. The public database of the Federal Statistical Office allows you to filter postgraduate unemployment rates by institution, disciplinary sector, canton and year. This allows precise comparisons between different universities and SUPs, instead of stopping at the national averages that we have illustrated. Informing yourself about these real numbers, before investing years of study and resources, is a prudent practice that more and more young adults should adopt.

How to orient yourself based on data

For students in the choice phase, the most relevant data is the radical difference between sectors. A degree in medicine, pharmacy or healthcare offers immediate employment prospects (rates between 1.5% and 1.6%), while design, music and theatre involve longer and more uncertain research (rates at 10.0%-10.8%). In the middle are the economic addresses, where the recent jump from 3.5% to 8.5% signals a contraction in opportunities. Choosing one of these three scenarios means accepting very different occupational risk profiles.

Those who are already employed postgraduate or are looking for work can use the calcolatore stipendio di Frontaliere Ticino to estimate their potential salary according to canton, sector and level of education. This also makes it possible to verify whether the choice of the training course corresponds to the expected earnings prospects. In addition, analyze the mercato del lavoro svizzero in

Source: rsi.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly measures the unemployment rate of the UST/BFS for recent graduates?: The Federal Statistical Office measures unemployment one year after graduation, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) method. The data photographs those who, 12 months after graduation, have not yet found a job. It does not include those who have continued their studies, have not looked for a job or have withdrawn from the market.
Why did unemployment rise so rapidly between 2023 and 2025, especially in the economy (from 3.5% to 8.5%)?: The UST/BFS data does not specify the underlying causes. The increase reflects the overall evolution of the Swiss labour market over the period, probably influenced by macroeconomic factors, sectoral dynamics and changes in labour demand for different job profiles.
If I study design in a sup, will I have a 10% chance of unemployment?: 10.0% is the national average unemployment rate for sup graduates in design measured one year after graduation. It is not an individual prediction — it depends on you: quality of skills, professional network, choice of institution, research region and research timing.
Where do I access detailed UST/BFS data for my canton and program?: The official database of the Federal Statistical Office (www.bfs.admin.ch) allows filters by institution, sector, canton and academic year. It is the main source for precise consultations and to compare rates between different training courses.
Is this unemployment rate the same as the general unemployment talked about in the media?: No. The UST/BFS measures the unemployment of recent graduates (a specific cohort at 1 year after graduation), while the general unemployment data reports the entire working population. Recent graduates tend to look for work intensively and have rates related to the transition from the training system to the labour market.