Employment by status in Switzerland
Switzerland: Employment by status was 83.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
83.2%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
50th
of 186 countries
All-time high
85.7%
in 2020
All-time low
81.6%
in 1997
Years of data
34
1991–2024
Employment by status in Switzerland, 1991–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment by status in Switzerland is 83.2%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment by status in Switzerland peaked at 85.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 81.6%, in 1997.
That places Switzerland 50th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Employment by status in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 82.0% | — |
| 1992 | 82.0% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 82.2% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 81.6% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 82.2% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 82.0% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 82.0% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 82.8% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 83.1% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 82.5% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 83.8% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 84.0% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 84.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 83.9% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 84.1% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 84.7% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 84.3% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 84.5% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 84.7% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 84.6% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 84.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 85.0% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 85.0% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 85.3% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 85.7% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 85.7% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 84.4% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 83.6% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 83.3% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 83.2% | -0.1% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 83.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 86.7%, 96% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 83.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 85.3%, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.0% | 81.6% | 82.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 83.5% | 82.0% | 84.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.9% | 84.3% | 85.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.0% | 83.2% | 85.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 47 Australia 83.8% compare
- 48 North Macedonia 83.2% compare
- 49 Netherlands 83.2% compare
- 51 South Africa 83.0% compare
- 52 New Caledonia 83.0% compare
- 53 Bahamas 82.9% compare
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 by status in Switzerland?
- Employment by status in Switzerland was 83.2% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment by status recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 85.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest employment by status recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.6% in 1997.
- How does Switzerland rank for employment by status?
- Switzerland ranks 50th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment by status rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment by status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of people in employment working as employees, as a percentage of total employment.