New start-ups Switzerland below average despite record number of company start-ups
More and more Swiss people are venturing into self-employment. The 27,109 companies founded in the first half of 2024 represent a record.
28.06.2024, 14:18
SDA
This is 2.1 percent more than in the same period last year. Compared to neighboring countries, however, this is not even average, as the IFJ Institute for Young Entrepreneurs announced on Friday.
According to the study, Switzerland is nevertheless a very good breeding ground for start-ups: A good infrastructure, government support programs and low corporate taxes made the location attractive. This is also confirmed by the Global Innovation Index, in which Switzerland took first place for the third time in a row in 2023.
High-tech on the upswing
Most new Swiss start-ups were in the trades, consulting, real estate and retail sectors. The sectors with the strongest growth compared to the previous year were high-tech (+61%), architecture and engineering (+34%) and marketing and communication (+31%).
By contrast, wholesale (-19%) and healthcare (-20%) recorded significant declines. The sharpest decline was recorded in the printing and publishing industry (-36%).
Here, 16 cantons contributed to the growth. Appenzell Ausserrhoden (+17%), Appenzell Innerrhoden (+15%), Vaud (+13%) and Uri (+10%) saw particularly high numbers of new start-ups. In the most populous canton, Zurich, they increased by just over 1%. The sharpest decline was recorded in the canton of Schaffhausen (-15%).
Neighbors better on average
This means that the first half of the year performs very well in a historical comparison: the record figure also means a good 17% more new start-ups than the average of the last ten first half-years.
A look across the borders is somewhat surprising. With 5.8 start-ups per 1,000 inhabitants, Switzerland is relatively weak in comparison with its neighboring countries.
Liechtenstein is well ahead of Switzerland with 28.7 start-ups per 1000 inhabitants. But France (15.4) and Germany (7.0) are also ahead of Switzerland. By contrast, Italy (5.3) and Austria (4.0) are weaker.
