Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Switzerland, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Switzerland is 4.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 12.2% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Switzerland peaked at 5.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1991.
Switzerland ranks 105th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.8% | — |
| 1992 | 2.3% | +28.9% |
| 1993 | 3.6% | +51.5% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | -13.6% |
| 1996 | 3.7% | +19.1% |
| 1997 | 4.1% | +12.0% |
| 1998 | 3.6% | -13.5% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | -14.4% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -12.9% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | +17.4% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | +40.8% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -10.0% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | -8.9% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 4.1% | +22.7% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | +17.0% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 4.5% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -17.8% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | +7.4% |
| 2025 | 4.9% | +12.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.2% | 1.8% | 4.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.5% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.0% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More education data for Switzerland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,266 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 5,583 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,990 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 89,549 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 636,381 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 556,945 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0618 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Switzerland?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Switzerland was 4.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1991.
- How does Switzerland rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Switzerland ranks 105th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.