Labor force participation rate in Switzerland
Switzerland: Labor force participation rate was 66.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
66.7%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
48th
of 186 countries
All-time high
68.7%
in 2016
All-time low
64.0%
in 1994
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Switzerland, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 66.7% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Switzerland peaked at 68.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 64.0%, in 1994.
Switzerland ranks 48th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64.7% | — |
| 1991 | 64.8% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 64.7% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 65.0% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 64.0% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 64.1% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 67.4% | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 67.3% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 67.9% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 67.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 67.3% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 67.8% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 67.8% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 67.8% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 67.3% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 67.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 67.3% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 67.6% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 68.2% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 68.3% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 67.0% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 67.5% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 67.6% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 67.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 68.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 68.2% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 68.7% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 68.5% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 68.6% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 68.3% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 68.0% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 67.7% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 67.1% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 67.5% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 67.1% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 66.7% | -0.5% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 66.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 66.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.8% | 64.0% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.6% | 67.0% | 68.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.0% | 67.0% | 68.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.4% | 66.7% | 68.0% | 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 labor force participation rate in Switzerland?
- Labor force participation rate in Switzerland was 66.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 68.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.0% in 1994.
- How does Switzerland rank for labor force participation rate?
- Switzerland ranks 48th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation 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 Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).