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

Switzerland: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 48.3% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
48.3%
Change on year
up 10.3%
World rank
26th
of 44 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: 48.5 Percentage2011: 40.3 Percentage2012: 40.2 Percentage2013: 40.8 Percentage2014: 41.9 Percentage2015: 40.2 Percentage2016: 43 Percentage2017: 40.4 Percentage2018: 38.9 Percentage2019: 43.8 Percentage2020: 48.3 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

Switzerland recorded 48.3% for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.3% on the previous year and down 0.4% 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.

That places Switzerland 26th out of 44 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 - quarterly data 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 48.5% +5.7%
2011 40.3% -16.9%
2012 40.2% -0.2%
2013 40.8% +1.5%
2014 41.9% +2.7%
2015 40.2% -4.1%
2016 43.0% +7.0%
2017 40.4% -6.0%
2018 38.9% -3.7%
2019 43.8% +12.6%
2020 48.3% +10.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 57.2% 51.1% 63.2% 2
2000s 45.6% 34.7% 54.0% 10
2010s 41.8% 38.9% 48.5% 10
2020s 48.3% 48.3% 48.3% 1

Countries ranked near Switzerland

  1. 24 France 57.0% compare
  2. 25 North Macedonia 55.6% compare
  3. 27 Bulgaria 48.0% compare
  4. 28 Denmark 47.4% compare
  5. 29 Norway 47.3% compare

See the full ranking of 46 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 48.3% 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 26th out of 44 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 0.4%. 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 - quarterly data. 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 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment/switzerland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
46 places, 991 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed