Swiss Skilled Labour Trends

For a long time, there was concern that it would not be possible to find enough skilled workers in the medium to long term. According to the Swiss Skilled Labour Shortage Index, this is no longer the case for all professions. The Adecco Group Switzerland and the Swiss Job Market Monitor (SMM) at the University of Zurich recently published their latest study. What are the most important findings on the subject of skilled workers?

1. There is a general decline in the shortage of skilled workers due to the falling number of vacancies (-8%) and an increase in job seekers (+17%) compared to the previous year. The unemployment rate is rising from 2.3% (2024) to 2.8% (2025).
2. Healthcare professions still top the skilled worker shortage ranking. This includes specialists such as medical specialists, nurses and pharmacists in particular.
3. Construction managers, foremen and production managers occupy second place in the skilled labour shortage ranking. But here, too, the shortage of skilled workers has decreased.
4. There has been a significant decline in the shortage of office, administrative and commercial professionals, as well as ICT and IT professionals. According to other studies, these occupational groups are also very strongly exposed to the influences of artificial intelligence (AI).

Curse or blessing?

What conclusions can be drawn from the results of the study? The results show that Switzerland is moving away from a pronounced labour market towards a more balanced situation. This is important for employees to know. Further training and upskilling remain important elements for success in the labour market.

It could also be assumed that geopolitical upheavals and the resulting economic uncertainties, keyword ‘customs duties’, have an influence on employment dynamics.

And what should not be underestimated is the question of the extent to which industry has already reorganised itself in order to avoid a dramatic shortage of skilled workers.

The entire study can be downloaded here: skilled-labour-shortage-index-2025_en.pdf