LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Switzerland
Switzerland: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 8.71 in 2025. ▲ Rising
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Switzerland, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Switzerland is 8.71, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.1% on the previous year and down 5.7% over five years.
Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Switzerland peaked at 9.23 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.43, in 1991.
That places Switzerland 45th 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 10 years of available data.
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.43 | — |
| 1992 | 3.13 | +28.9% |
| 1993 | 4.35 | +38.9% |
| 1994 | 4.25 | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 3.65 | -14.3% |
| 2021 | 9.23 | +153.3% |
| 2022 | 8.28 | -10.3% |
| 2023 | 8.14 | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 8.29 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 8.71 | +5.1% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 8.71 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.45, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 8.71 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.71, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.56 | 2.43 | 4.35 | 5 |
| 2020s | 8.53 | 8.14 | 9.23 | 5 |
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 lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Switzerland?
- Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Switzerland was 8.71 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 9.23 in 2021.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.43 in 1991.
- How does Switzerland rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- Switzerland ranks 45th out of 89 countries with data for 2025.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (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. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. 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.