Which sectors saw the biggest wage increase in 2025 in Switzerland?

The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has announced that real and minimum wages increased in Switzerland in 2025, following an agreement with the Swiss unions. Some sectors benefited more than others from the increase.

Wage increases in Switzerland less than previous years

Swiss unions (also known as social partners) are responsible for negotiating Collective Labour Agreements (CLAs), which are defined by the Swiss government as “an agreement concluded between employers’ associations and workers’ associations/unions. The two parties define the minimum conditions (e.g. minimum wage) to be observed.” 

For 2025, the Swiss unions agreed that real wages would increase by an average of 1,2 percent, according to a FSO press release. The increase was lower than the previous two years, which saw a 2,5 percent increase in 2023 and 2,1 percent in 2024. 

Around 600.000 workers in Switzerland have benefited from the change to their salaries. When an expected 0,2 percent inflation rate is accounted for, the real wage increase equates to 1 percent.

Minimum wages also rose in 2025, increasing by 1 percent compared to 2 percent in 2024. Almost 1,8 million workers in Switzerland will benefit from this, due to the CLAs that are in place.

Which sector saw the biggest wage increases?

The sector that saw the most significant increase in real wages was construction (1,7 percent), followed by finance and insurance (1,6 percent), education (1,5 percent), transportation and warehousing (1,5 percent) and healthcare and social services (1,2 percent).

Sectors that benefited from a 1,6 percent increase in minimum wages include administration, laundry and dry cleaning, hairdressers and finance and insurance. Minimum wages in the hospitality sector (accommodation and catering) increased by 1,1 percent, and manufacturing and construction increased by 0,8 percent. 

Certain job sectors, such as construction and transportation, have seen an increase in strikes in recent years. Most recently, Uber drivers in Zurich went on strike and on November 3, Watson reported that around 7.000 construction workers went on strike in French-speaking cities in Switzerland. Many job sectors are also facing labour shortages.