Immigrants are well integrated in Switzerland, new government report reveals; a new SBB travelcard targets customers without mobile phones; and more news in our roundup this Wednesday.
Immigrants are ‘very well integrated’ in Switzerland, new study reveals
Compared to other European countries, Switzerland performs well in terms of integrating foreign nationals, according to a study published by the Swiss government on Tuesday.
In international comparison with countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), people who immigrate to Switzerland “have a high level of education, a very high employment rate, and actively strive to learn a national language,” the government said.
It added that, overall, “integration of immigrants into the labour market works very well in Switzerland. The employment rate of immigrants is 77 percent – one of the highest in the OECD. Nearly half of these individuals hold highly skilled jobs, which is also a high figure internationally.”
A new SBB travelcard targets customers without mobile phones
Most commuters purchase train tickets via their SBB app, with the payment automatically deducted from their preferred mode of payment.
But this transaction is not possible for people without smart phones.
Now, however, the SwissPass Alliance is launching a prepaid card, allowing travellers with no access to phones or credit cards to continue purchasing public transport tickets on the spot.
With this card, commuters will be able to buy their tickets at all points of sale and ticket machines, including those that don’t accept cash.
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In terms of rents, Zurich’s beats other European cities
The cost of living in Germany continues to rise, especially rents.
A new ranking by Statista shows that Munich is the most expensive city in Germany, with rents equivalent to 2,113.23 francs.
But even Munich can’t compare with Zurich in this regard.
Here, a one-room apartment costs an average of 2,164.86 francs – the highest in Europe, and .significantly more than a 100-square-metre apartment in Munich.
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The cost of medicines in Switzerland has soared to record highs
In 2024, the cost amounted to 9.4 billion francs – an increase of 3.6 percent, according to the latest Helsana Medicines Report published on Tuesday.
The analysis also reveals that costs vary considerably by region.
With 1,180 francs per capita, Ticino tops the list.
Next are Basel-City and Basel-Country (both 1,105 francs), Graubünden (1,101), Solothurn (1,085), and Geneva (1,084) – all of which exceed the national average of 1,019 francs for per-capita drug spending.
Cantons with highest costs usually have an aging population, a high density of specialised medical services, and a healthcare tradition geared towards more frequent treatments and prescriptions.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
