Switzerland’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.0% in May 2026, unchanged from April and above market expectations of 2.9%. The number of unemployed people fell by 2.6 thousand from the previous month to 140.2 thousand, although unemployment remained 9.6% higher than a year earlier. The decline in unemployment was broad-based across most cantons, with the sharpest decreases recorded in Graubünden (-13.7%), Freiburg (-4.8%), and Wallis (-4.4%). By sector, unemployment fell notably in construction (-6.5%) and hospitality (-5.4%), reflecting seasonal improvements in labor demand. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in finance and insurance services increased by 0.8% from April and was 19.4% higher than a year earlier. Youth unemployment, defined as job-seekers aged 15 to 24, was unchanged at 2.7%, while job vacancies fell by 3.7 thousand to 44.7 thousand. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the jobless rate edged up to 3.1% from 3.0%. source: State Secretariat for Economic Affairs

Unemployment Rate in Switzerland remained unchanged at 3 percent in May. Unemployment Rate in Switzerland averaged 3.09 percent from 1995 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 5.70 percent in January of 1997 and a record low of 1.50 percent in May of 2001. This page provides - Switzerland Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Switzerland Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Switzerland remained unchanged at 3 percent in May. Unemployment Rate in Switzerland is expected to be 2.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Switzerland Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 2.90 percent in 2027 and 2.80 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-07 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 3% 3.1% 3.1%
2026-06-04 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
May 3% 3% 2.9% 2.9%
2026-07-06 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jun 3% 2.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Job Vacancies 44717.00 48435.00 May 2026
Job Vacancy Rate 1.50 1.60 percent Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 140275.00 142902.00 May 2026
Unemployment Rate 3.00 3.00 percent May 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 2.70 2.70 percent May 2026


Switzerland Unemployment Rate
In Switzerland, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.00 3.00 5.70 1.50 1995 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Switzerland Jobless Rate Steady at 3.0%
Switzerland’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.0% in May 2026, unchanged from April and above market expectations of 2.9%. The number of unemployed people fell by 2.6 thousand from the previous month to 140.2 thousand, although unemployment remained 9.6% higher than a year earlier. The decline in unemployment was broad-based across most cantons, with the sharpest decreases recorded in Graubünden (-13.7%), Freiburg (-4.8%), and Wallis (-4.4%). By sector, unemployment fell notably in construction (-6.5%) and hospitality (-5.4%), reflecting seasonal improvements in labor demand. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in finance and insurance services increased by 0.8% from April and was 19.4% higher than a year earlier. Youth unemployment, defined as job-seekers aged 15 to 24, was unchanged at 2.7%, while job vacancies fell by 3.7 thousand to 44.7 thousand. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the jobless rate edged up to 3.1% from 3.0%.
2026-06-04
Switzerland Jobless Rate Falls to 6-Month Low
Switzerland’s non seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3% in April 2026 from 3.1% in March, marking the lowest level in six months. The number of unemployed people declined by 3,353 from the previous month to 142,902, though it remained 9.8% higher than a year earlier. On a seasonally adjusted basis, unemployment was broadly stable at 3%, with the number of unemployed edging up slightly to 141,847. Youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 dropped by 6.5% from March to 11,823, lowering the jobless rate for that group to 2.7%, although it was still above year ago levels. Unemployment among older workers aged 50 to 64 also declined by 2% on the month to 39,837, bringing their unemployment rate down to 2.7%, while remaining higher compared with April 2025.
2026-05-07
Switzerland Jobless Rate Ticks Down to 3.1%
Switzerland’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 3.1% in March 2026 from 3.2% in each of the previous two months, which had marked the highest level since April 2021. The latest reading came in slightly below market expectations of 3.2%. The number of unemployed persons fell by 4.8 thousand from a month earlier to a four-month low of 146.3 thousand. The youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, dropped to 2.9%, the lowest level since July 2025, from 3.1% in February, with the number of young unemployed decreasing by 0.9 thousand to 12.6 thousand. Meanwhile, reported job vacancies increased by 0.7 thousand to 48.8 thousand. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the jobless rate remained unchanged at 3.0% in March.
2026-04-08