Unemployed population — Unemployment in Switzerland
Switzerland: Unemployed population — Unemployment was 248.55 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Switzerland, 1999–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployed population — unemployment in Switzerland stood at 248.55 Persons. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.3% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed population — unemployment in Switzerland peaked at 248.55 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 100.6 Persons, in 2001.
Switzerland ranks 24th of 35 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 125.4 Persons | — |
| 2000 | 106.2 Persons | -15.3% |
| 2001 | 100.6 Persons | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 119.4 Persons | +18.7% |
| 2003 | 170.1 Persons | +42.5% |
| 2004 | 178.6 Persons | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 184.5 Persons | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 168.8 Persons | -8.5% |
| 2007 | 156.2 Persons | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 146.6 Persons | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 183.2 Persons | +25.0% |
| 2010 | 212.28 Persons | +15.9% |
| 2011 | 197.9 Persons | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 204.32 Persons | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 218.88 Persons | +7.1% |
| 2014 | 226.62 Persons | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 228.88 Persons | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 238.18 Persons | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 233.62 Persons | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 231.28 Persons | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 216.28 Persons | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 237.65 Persons | +9.9% |
| 2021 | 248.4 Persons | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 204.35 Persons | -17.7% |
| 2023 | 204.28 Persons | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 221.28 Persons | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 248.55 Persons | +12.3% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 248.55 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 338.16 Persons, 74% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 248.55 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 307.41 Persons, 81% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 125.4 Persons | 125.4 Persons | 125.4 Persons | 1 |
| 2000s | 151.42 Persons | 100.6 Persons | 184.5 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 220.82 Persons | 197.9 Persons | 238.18 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 227.42 Persons | 204.28 Persons | 248.55 Persons | 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 unemployed population — unemployment in Switzerland?
- Unemployed population — unemployment in Switzerland was 248.55 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 248.55 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 100.6 Persons in 2001.
- How does Switzerland rank for unemployed population — unemployment?
- Switzerland ranks 24th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployed population — unemployment rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployed population — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.