Labor market Free movement of persons counteracts the shortage of skilled workers

Under the free movement of persons, around 68,000 more people entered Switzerland in 2023 than left the country. This is the second-highest figure since the agreement came into force. The reasons for this are low unemployment and growth in employment.

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) wrote on Monday that immigration from EU and EFTA states was only higher in 2008. The demand on the Swiss labor market for workers from the EU continues to be high - and it is succeeding well in meeting this demand.

At a media conference in Bern, representatives of the federal government referred to demographic trends. The domestic population of working age has only grown slightly over the past 20 years. In contrast, the increase in employment has been well above the EU average.

Germans made up the largest group of immigrants with a share of 21 percent. They were followed by France and Italy with shares of 16 and 15 percent respectively.