Despite mass job cuts, Switzerland records a slight increase in employment; more cross-border commuters come to work in Switzerland; and other news in our roundup this Friday.
Despite job cuts, Switzerland records a slight increase in employment
In the fourth quarter of 2025 (October-December), total employment in Switzerland rose by 0.2 percent compared to the same period in 2024, according to data released on Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office.
Companies reported 4.3 percent fewer job vacancies than a year earlier. Difficulties in recruiting specialists remained relatively stable compared to the previous quarter, and employment outlooks are optimistic.
This is a positive development, considering that many Switzerland-based companies have been announcing job cuts.
READ MORE: All the job cuts announced in Switzerland for 2026
Increase recorded in the number of cross-border workers in Switzerland
At the end of December 2025, there were approximately 411,000 people with a cross-border worker permit G employed in Switzerland – 1.1 percent more compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
Slightly more than half of the cross-border workforce reside in France (58.2 percent), followed by Italy (22.2 percent) ,and Germany (16.4 percent).
Over the past five years, their number has increased from 341,000 in the fourth quarter of 2020 to 411,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025, representing net growth of 20.5 percent.
READ MORE: Who can work in Switzerland but live in a neighbouring country?
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Weak dollar doesn’t diminish the influx of US tourists to Switzerland
While fewer Swiss travel to the United States, Americans continue to visit Switzerland – even though the franc / dollar exchange rate is not in their favour.
Within 10 years, the number of US tourists in Switzerland has more than doubled. This means that, in terms of overnight stays, the USA is now only slightly behind the leader, Germany, which provides the most foreign visitors.
According to the Tourism Monitor Switzerland, Americans also come back again and again – over 10 percent of US visitors have already been to Switzerland more than five times.
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Two injured in Swiss explosives blast
Two people were slightly injured and several buildings were damaged this week when the attempted disposal of several hundred kilograms of explosives accidentally sparked a giant blast, Swiss police said.
The explosion happened at a rural facility used for handling explosives and for fire safety training, around 15 kilometres (nine miles) west of Zurich, Switzerland’s biggest city, in the Illnau-Effretikon municipality.
“Shortly after 1pm, a private demolition company began disposing of several hundred kilograms of explosives at the Tatsch test and training facility,” the Zurich cantonal police force said in a statement.
“The explosives, which were supposed to burn, detonated. This created a crater several metres in diameter. The shockwave caused significant damage to several buildings and shelters on the site.
“Two employees of the company involved sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment at the scene.” (AFP)
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