Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Switzerland

Switzerland: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 45.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
45.4%
Change on year
up 20.4%
World rank
28th
of 43 countries
All-time high
63.2%
in 1998
All-time low
34.7%
in 2008
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Switzerland, 1998–2020

02040601998200920201998: 63.2 Percentage1999: 51.1 Percentage2000: 45.6 Percentage2001: 37.1 Percentage2002: 45.3 Percentage2003: 52.2 Percentage2004: 54 Percentage2005: 52.2 Percentage2006: 46 Percentage2007: 42.9 Percentage2008: 34.7 Percentage2009: 45.9 Percentage2010: 48.7 Percentage2011: 41.8 Percentage2012: 41.1 Percentage2013: 41.5 Percentage2014: 41.3 Percentage2015: 38.9 Percentage2016: 43.2 Percentage2017: 40.5 Percentage2018: 37.2 Percentage2019: 37.7 Percentage2020: 45.4 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

Switzerland recorded 45.4% for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.4% on the previous year and down 6.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Switzerland peaked at 63.2% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 34.7%, in 2008.

Switzerland ranks 28th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Switzerland, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment in Switzerland, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 63.2%
1999 51.1% -19.1%
2000 45.6% -10.8%
2001 37.1% -18.6%
2002 45.3% +22.1%
2003 52.2% +15.2%
2004 54.0% +3.4%
2005 52.2% -3.3%
2006 46.0% -11.9%
2007 42.9% -6.7%
2008 34.7% -19.1%
2009 45.9% +32.3%
2010 48.7% +6.1%
2011 41.8% -14.2%
2012 41.1% -1.7%
2013 41.5% +1.0%
2014 41.3% -0.5%
2015 38.9% -5.8%
2016 43.2% +11.1%
2017 40.5% -6.3%
2018 37.2% -8.1%
2019 37.7% +1.3%
2020 45.4% +20.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 57.2% 51.1% 63.2% 2
2000s 45.6% 34.7% 54.0% 10
2010s 41.2% 37.2% 48.7% 10
2020s 45.4% 45.4% 45.4% 1

Countries ranked near Switzerland

  1. 25 Bulgaria 46.0% compare
  2. 26 Latvia 45.6% compare
  3. 26 Latvia 45.6% compare
  4. 29 Denmark 43.9% compare
  5. 30 Norway 43.7% compare
  6. 31 Cyprus 41.4% compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More work & labour data for Switzerland

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Switzerland?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Switzerland was 45.4% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Switzerland?
The highest recorded value was 63.2% in 1998.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Switzerland?
The lowest recorded value was 34.7% in 2008.
How does Switzerland rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Switzerland ranks 28th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Switzerland?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Switzerland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Switzerland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment-2/switzerland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
43 places, 931 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed