New government data reveals that though fewer foreigners came to Switzerland in 2025, they continued to meet the needs of Switzerland’s labour market.
Last year, immigration of working-age individuals seeking permanent employment in Switzerland remained relatively stable, with a decrease of only 1,492 people (-1.6 percent).
This is what emerges from a new study published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
In all, 93,086 foreign nationals arrived in Switzerland in 2025 with the aim of working in the country; 84,487 of those came from the European Union and EFTA states – Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – and others from third countries.
What else does the FSO data reveal?
Unlike those coming to Switzerland from the EU/EFTA countries – who have an almost unlimited access to the country’s labour market and the same right to employment opportunities as Swiss citizens – the number of immigrants from third countries fell by 11.3 percent (5,640 people), to 44,421 individuals.
That’s because conditions of entry for this group of foreigners are more restrictive and are based on a quota system.
They are granted a work permit only if they are highly-specialised in their fields and no suitable Swiss or EU/EFTA candidates can be found for a specific job.
READ MORE: What do third-country nationals need to do to move to Switzerland?
Advertisement
Which nationalities have immigrated the most to Switzerland?
The largest foreign population is from Italy (350,958 people), followed by the Germans (338,584), Portuguese (264,341), and French (181,501).
Some come, others leave
In 2025, 82,659 people belonging to the foreign permanent resident population left Switzerland — 4.8 percent more compared to previous year.
In total, 64,103 EU/EFTA nationals (+5.8 percent) and 18,556 third-country nationals (+1.3 percent) emigrated.
The reasons for the departures are not mentioned in this particular study, but others have come up with some answers.
Change in the employment status is one of the reasons for early departures – for instance, their jobs have ended and their permits are not renewed.
“People tend to forget that those who immigrate don’t necessarily settle down,” said sociologist Liliana Azevedo from the Swiss Research Center for Migration at the University of Neuchâtel.
“Work is what binds people to Switzerland. Unemployment, insecure or unskilled jobs, are all obstacles to remaining in the country for more than a few years,” she said.
Also, many foreigners come to Switzerland to study or undergo training, and leave the country once that is finished.
