Switzerland’s labour market remained robust in August despite ongoing wars, trade tensions and the growing impact of artificial intelligence, according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco). The overall unemployment rate stayed at 3.0% month‑on‑month, with the seasonally adjusted rate unchanged at 3.1%, while the use of short‑time work (Kurzarbeit) continued to fall.
Youth unemployment showed a seasonal rise. The number of 15‑ to 24‑year‑olds registered as unemployed at regional employment centres (RAV) increased by roughly one‑fifth, adding 2,400 people to reach about 14,700. The corresponding unemployment rate for this group climbed 0.6 percentage points to 3.4%. Seco’s head of the labour directorate, Jérôme Cosandey, said the August peak is typical as many students, apprentices and graduates finish their programmes and search for work.
Unemployment rates for older cohorts were unchanged. The 25‑ to 49‑year‑old bracket stayed at 3.3% and the 50‑ to 64‑year‑old bracket at 2.7%.
The average duration of unemployment also varied by age. Young job seekers were out of work for just over three months on average, whereas workers aged 55‑64 took more than nine months to find new employment.
Across all age groups, the total number of people registered as unemployed at the RAV rose by 1.6% from July to 141,544. The count of job seekers increased marginally by 48 to 227,248. Data on short‑time work, released with a delay, showed that in May 8,331 employees were on reduced hours, a 16% drop from April. The number of affected business units fell by 12% to 599, and firms’ pre‑registrations for short‑time work suggested a further decline in the coming months.
Seco concluded that, despite the uncertain macro‑economic backdrop, the Swiss labour market continues to display resilience.
