Switzerland Unemployment in April 2017: Decreased from 3.4 percent to 3.3 percent, seasonally adjusted remained unchanged 3.3 percent

Unemployment Falls in Switzerland

Figures published on 9 May 2017 by SECO, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, show a fall in the number of unemployed in Switzerland.

At the end of April 2017, there were 146,330 people registered as unemployed, 5,950 fewer than the month before, reducing the rate of unemployment from 3.4% to 3.3%.

Unemployment across the French and Italian speaking regions averaged 4.3%, materially higher than in German speaking Switzerland where the rate was 2.9%. The worst affected cantons were Neuchâtel (5.9%), Geneva (5.3%), Jura (4.7%), Vaud (4.6%) and Basel (3.9%). At the other end of the spectrum, Obwalden and Appenzell-Innerrhoden had rates of less than 1%.

In addition, the rate was higher among foreigners (5.9%) compared to Swiss (2.3%).

SECO defines unemployed as those officially registered as unemployed who still qualify for unemployment benefits. Those who don’t, usually because they have been out of work for long periods, are excluded from the official figure. A more more comprehensive calculation, which includes all those looking for work, calculated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is typically far higher than the SECO figure. The ILO percentage for Switzerland in 2016 was 4.6%, while SECO’s rate was 3.5%.

In April 2017, there were 3,035 people who had reached the end of their entitlement to benefits under the unemployment insurance system, falling out of SECO’s official measure of unemployment.

Unemployment Rate (not seasonally adjusted)

Registered unemployment in April 2017 – At the end of April 2017, 146,327 unemployed persons were registered with the Regional Employment Services Centers (RAV), according to the SECO surveys, 5,953 less than in the previous month. The unemployment rate thus fell from 3.4% in March 2017 to 3.3% in the reporting month. 

Switzerland Unemployment Rate Not Seasonally Adjusted, April 2017

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Seasonally adjusted Unemployment Rate

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained the same at 3.3%.

Switzerland Unemployment Rate Seasonally Adjusted, April 2017

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Number of unemployed and Job seekers

Compared to the previous month, unemployment fell by 3,213 persons (-2.1%).

Youth unemployment in April 2017

The youth unemployment (15 to 24 year olds) decreased by 1’347 persons (-7.7%) to 16’216. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to a decrease of 1’655 persons (-9.3%).

Job search in April 2017

A total of 208,357 jobseekers were registered, 8’891 fewer than in the previous month. Compared to the same period of the previous year, this figure fell by 2’569 persons (-1.2%).

Reported vacancies in April 2017

The number of vacancies reported to RAV decreased by 12 to 12,119 posts.

Calculated work in February 2017

In February 2017, 5,493 people were affected by short-time work, 724 fewer persons (-11.6%) than in the previous month. The number of holdings decreased by 7 units (-1.3%) to 534. The working hours fell by 55’293 (-15.5%) to 301’398 hours. In the corresponding period of the previous year (February 2016), 351’674 hours had been registered, which had spread to 6,026 persons in 660 companies.

Controls in February 2017

According to the provisional figures of the unemployment insurance funds, the number of persons who had exhausted their right to unemployment compensation during the month of February 2017 amounted to 3,035 persons.

Switzerland, Number of Employed and Number of Job Seekers, April 2017

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