Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 17.85 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Switzerland, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 17.85 for discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.5% on the previous year and up 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Switzerland peaked at 25.94 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.67, in 1997.
That places Switzerland 52nd out of 89 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.52 | — |
| 1992 | 16.14 | +114.8% |
| 1993 | 15.2 | -5.8% |
| 1994 | 12.91 | -15.1% |
| 1995 | 10.39 | -19.5% |
| 1996 | 3.72 | -64.2% |
| 1997 | 3.67 | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 6.41 | +74.8% |
| 2000 | 25.94 | +304.7% |
| 2002 | 9.58 | -63.1% |
| 2003 | 9.38 | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 9.12 | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 8 | -12.4% |
| 2006 | 9.54 | +19.3% |
| 2007 | 7.55 | -20.9% |
| 2008 | 12.28 | +62.7% |
| 2009 | 15.27 | +24.3% |
| 2010 | 10.36 | -32.2% |
| 2011 | 10.12 | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 10.31 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 10.55 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 9.79 | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 12.75 | +30.3% |
| 2016 | 12.49 | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 14.23 | +13.9% |
| 2018 | 12.88 | -9.5% |
| 2019 | 13.85 | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 12.69 | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 19.42 | +53.0% |
| 2022 | 19.82 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 19.77 | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 18.49 | -6.5% |
| 2025 | 17.85 | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.49 | 3.67 | 16.14 | 8 |
| 2000s | 11.85 | 7.55 | 25.94 | 9 |
| 2010s | 11.73 | 9.79 | 14.23 | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.01 | 12.69 | 19.82 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 49 United Kingdom 20.36 compare
- 50 North Macedonia 18.67 compare
- 51 El Salvador 18.29 compare
- 53 Albania 17.53 compare
- 54 Finland 17.49 compare
- 55 Ireland 16.06 compare
More work & labour data for Switzerland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0651 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0485 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0817 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6452 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 8,038 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,842 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,568 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,558 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,126 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Switzerland?
- Discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Switzerland was 17.85 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 25.94 in 2000.
- What is the lowest discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.67 in 1997.
- How does Switzerland rank for discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Switzerland ranks 52nd out of 89 countries with data for 2025.
- Is discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Discouraged job-seekers refer to those persons of working age who during a specified reference period were without work and available for work, but did not look for work in the recent past for specific reasons (for example, believing that there were no jobs available, believing there were none for which they would qualify, or having given up hope of finding employment). Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.