Swiss job market: cautious optimism on employment

The labor market should remain stable in Switzerland in the next three months. It is the result of the analysis carried out by Manpower, according to which more than nine out of ten employers do not provide for changes in the number of jobs in the fourth quarter of 2016. Only  4 % are expecting to increase their staffing levels, while 3 % are anticipating a reduction.

“This relatively stable—but subdued—forecast may be due in part to the UK’s vote for Brexit, which is exacerbating political uncertainty and bringing the risk that the Swiss franc may rise further against the euro," noted Herbert Beuchat, interim director Manpower Switzerland, quoted in a statement.

The Net Employment Outlook turns out to be 1% in the period under review, an increase of one point from the previous quarter, as well as on an annual basis.
At the regional level, Ticino records the lowest expectations of the country (-3%), while the highest in the Espace Mittelland (+ 7%). Positive forecasts for Zurich (+ 4%) and the Lake Geneva region (+ 1%). Employers in the 25 EMEA countries are all signaling positive forecasts. Switzerland’s
forecast is among the region’s weakest alongside Italy, Finland, and Belgium, with employers in each of these countries reporting a fourth-quarter outlook of +1 %. 

The survey is based on 750 employers interviewed between July 20 and August 2, 2016.