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

02040601990200720251990: 64.7 %1991: 64.8 %1992: 64.7 %1993: 65 %1994: 64 %1995: 64.1 %1996: 67.4 %1997: 67.3 %1998: 67.9 %1999: 67.7 %2000: 67.3 %2001: 67.8 %2002: 67.8 %2003: 67.8 %2004: 67.3 %2005: 67 %2006: 67.3 %2007: 67.6 %2008: 68.2 %2009: 68.3 %2010: 67 %2011: 67.5 %2012: 67.6 %2013: 67.6 %2014: 68 %2015: 68.2 %2016: 68.7 %2017: 68.5 %2018: 68.6 %2019: 68.3 %2020: 68 %2021: 67.7 %2022: 67.1 %2023: 67.5 %2024: 67.1 %2025: 66.7 %

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 45 Mali 67.0% compare
  2. 46 East Timor 67.0% compare
  3. 47 Cyprus 67.0% compare
  4. 49 Thailand 66.7% compare
  5. 50 Australia 66.5% compare
  6. 51 Panama 66.3% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Switzerland

All data for Switzerland →

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

Indicator
Labor force participation rate
Unit
%
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,682 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).