Swiss economy beats expectations with strong job growth in 2026 so far

Good news for international professionals and job seekers across Switzerland: the local economy is outperforming expectations. With the Swiss franc and stock market going from strength to strength, new data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has revealed that the Swiss economy has grown “more strongly” than previously estimated, reports Watson.

Swiss economy update: GDP increased 1,6 percent 

Gross domestic product (GDP), the measure of all goods and services produced in the country, increased by 1,6 percent in 2025 at the previous year’s prices. 

The government attributed the economic growth to “strong domestic demand,” which rose 2,5 percent. Investments in particular boosted growth and were up 3,5 percent.

Household and private non-profit (NPISH) consumption expenditure growth slowed slightly to 1,7 percent (compared to 2,1 percent in 2024), with families and companies in Switzerland spending money on healthcare, transport and hospitality. Switzerland spent less on tobacco and alcohol in 2025.

Swiss industries also grew in 2025. Manufacturing and production increased 2,4 percent, with chemical and pharmaceutical products growing 8,1 percent across the year. Retail (1,6 percent), wholesale trade (5,2 percent), financial services (6,6 percent) and health and social services (5,2 percent) also had a positive year.

Some sectors experienced a decline, particularly in arts, entertainment and creation (29,3 percent), largely because there were “no major international sporting events”.

Vacancies increasing in the Swiss job market

Switzerland’s economic growth is now also starting to be felt by anyone looking for a job. The government has also revealed that in the second quarter of 2026 (April to June), employment increased by 2 percent year-on-year to a total of 5,698 million employees. 

Companies across the country reported 2,7 percent more job vacancies (a total of 98.700) compared to the year before, signalling that the overall “employment outlook is positive.” Finding skilled workers for in-demand jobs in Switzerland, such as healthcare professionals, IT specialists and engineers, remains difficult for many employers.