Employment rate in Switzerland
Switzerland: Employment rate was 63.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
63.5%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
47th
of 186 countries
All-time high
66.1%
in 2001
All-time low
61.7%
in 1994
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Switzerland, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Switzerland is 63.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Switzerland peaked at 66.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 61.7%, in 1994.
That places Switzerland 47th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Employment rate in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 63.6% | — |
| 1992 | 63.2% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 62.7% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 61.7% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 62.1% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 64.9% | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 64.5% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 65.4% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 65.7% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 65.5% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 66.1% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 65.8% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 65.1% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 64.4% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 64.0% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 64.6% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 65.2% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 65.9% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 65.5% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 63.8% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 64.5% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 64.6% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 64.4% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 64.7% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 64.9% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 65.3% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 65.2% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 65.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 65.3% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 64.7% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 64.3% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 64.3% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 64.7% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 64.2% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 63.5% | -1.1% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 63.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 58.9%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 63.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.6%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.8% | 61.7% | 65.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 65.2% | 64.0% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.8% | 63.8% | 65.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.3% | 63.5% | 64.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
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 employment rate in Switzerland?
- Employment rate in Switzerland was 63.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 66.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.7% in 1994.
- How does Switzerland rank for employment rate?
- Switzerland ranks 47th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.