Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Switzerland
Switzerland: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 9.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Switzerland, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Switzerland stood at 9.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Switzerland peaked at 14.7% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 9.3%, in 2020.
Switzerland ranks 152nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 14.2% | — |
| 1992 | 14.2% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 14.2% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 14.2% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 14.1% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 14.1% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 14.6% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 14.7% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 13.9% | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 13.7% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 13.2% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 12.7% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 12.1% | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 11.9% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 12.4% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 11.8% | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 11.3% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 11.5% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 11.0% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 11.3% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 10.9% | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 10.3% | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 10.2% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 9.5% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 9.3% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 9.6% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 9.7% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 9.6% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 9.6% | -0.0% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 9.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 9.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.3%, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.3% | 14.1% | 14.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.5% | 11.3% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 9.5% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.6% | 9.3% | 9.7% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Switzerland?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Switzerland was 9.6% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 1999.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3% in 2020.
- How does Switzerland rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Switzerland ranks 152nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).