Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 4.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Switzerland, 1975–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Switzerland stood at 4.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.4% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Switzerland peaked at 5.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1978.
That places Switzerland 114th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.2% | — |
| 1976 | 0.6% | +200.0% |
| 1977 | 0.4% | -33.3% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.2% | — |
| 1982 | 0.6% | +200.0% |
| 1983 | 0.9% | +50.0% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | +55.6% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | -69.6% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 2.6% | — |
| 1991 | 2.7% | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 3.0% | +11.0% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +49.7% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | -14.0% |
| 1996 | 4.1% | +11.6% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | -13.6% |
| 2000 | 3.1% | -11.7% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 4.5% | +45.0% |
| 2004 | 4.8% | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | -11.9% |
| 2009 | 4.5% | +13.7% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 5.1% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 4.4% | -16.3% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | +6.5% |
| 2025 | 4.9% | +6.4% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 4.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.5%, 88% of the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 4.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.0%, 81% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| 1982 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| 1978 | -100.0% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| 1986 | -100.0% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| 1988 | -100.0% | 1.1% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 5 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.6% | 2.6% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.2% | 3.1% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 4.7% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 111 Cayman Islands 5.2% compare
- 112 Peru 5.0% compare
- 113 Faroe Islands 4.9% compare
- 115 Cyprus 4.8% compare
- 116 Ireland 4.6% compare
- 117 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4.6% 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 unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Switzerland?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Switzerland was 4.9% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1978.
- How does Switzerland rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Switzerland ranks 114th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.