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Swiss employees working less and taking more holidays

In 2018, people in Switzerland worked 7.9 billion hours - this seems high, but the total hours worked weekly has declined and Swiss employees are taking more holiday leave.

Published: 24 May 2019 13:49 CEST

Swiss employees working less and taking more holidays

The Swiss work less hours a week compared to this time last year. Photo: Depositphoto.com/ Rawpixel

According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), between 2013 and 2018, the actual weekly working hours of full-time employees declined by an average of 5 minutes, to 41 hours and 8 minutes across Switzerland and annual holiday taken increased to 5.2 weeks.

Swiss workers between the ages of 20 and 49 take an average of 4.9 weeks off for holidays, fewer than those aged 15 and 19 years old who take 5 4 weeks off. However, older employees took the most time off, averaging almost six weeks of holiday leave.

Read also: Jobs in Switzerland: Where the vacancies are in 2019?

Swiss workers are taking more holiday leave. Photo: Depositphoto.com/Zveiger

The sector that was working the most hours was Switzerland’s primary or agricultural sector, where employees worked over 45 hours per week.

Below are the Swiss sectors that are clocking in the most hours of work:

1. The primary or agricultural sector (2018: 45 hours and 48 minutes)

2. Hospitality sector (42 hours and 7 minutes)

3. Freelance, scientific and technical services (41 hours and 54 minutes)

4. Credit and Insurance (41 hours and 38 minutes).

Read also: Five insider tips for job seekers in Switzerland

How Switzerland’s workforce compares to other nations:

According to the FSO, global comparison data is collected differently and looking at the total workforce (which includes part-time employees), Switzerland was recorded as having 35 hours and 48-minute work week in 2018, making it one of the countries with the lowest actual working hours per week, behind France (35 hours and 54 minutes) but ahead of Germany (34 hours and 48 minutes).

According to researchers, Switzerland's ranking is directly linked with its high proportion of part-time workers.

A snapshot of the work week in European countries included in the survey:

Greece: 40 hours and 36 minutes
France: 35 hours and 54 minutes
Switzerland: 35 hours and 48 minutes
Germany: 34 hours and 48 minutes
Netherlands: 31 hours and 36 minutes

The average working week in the European Union (EU28) was 36 hours and 24 minutes.

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What are the best ways to search for your next job in Switzerland?

The good news is that, as a country that serves as a world centre of finance, pharmaceuticals, and research, Switzerland offers an environment very friendly to English speakers. Unlike some European countries, hiring is a flexible and open process.

That said, some hints will help you in your Swiss job search.

Know where to look

Before beginning your job search, knowing where most of your industry’s jobs are is essential.

As The Local Switzerland has previously discussed, Zurich is Switzerland’s financial capital, whereas most pharmaceutical players are based in Basel.

The life sciences are concentrated in ‘Health Valley’, stretching from Geneva to Montreaux.

Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne, Bern, Basel, and St Gallen also have large universities that employ many researchers from abroad.

Knowing where jobs are based will allow you to concentrate your search, and give you the time to more fully research and understand the needs of particular companies.

READ MORE: Where are the jobs in Switzerland for English speakers?

Develop your Xing as well as your LinkedIn profile

Most job seekers within professional working environments will have a LinkedIn profile to share with prospective employers.

Xing is also a significant player in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and it’s normal for German-speaking professionals to have an accompanying profile on that platform.

Developing your presence on Xing can demonstrate that you are gaining a greater understanding of the Swiss working environment and establishing yourself as a long-term investment.

READ MORE: Can you find a job in Zurich if you don’t speak German?

Use specialised job boards

While many of the big job boards operate in Switzerland—Indeed and Monster, for example—several job boards focus on Swiss jobs specifically or service a key segment of the job market.

Jobs.ch, jobup.ch, and Jobscout24 are popular sites within Switzerland and are often the first port of call for job seekers. Each has an English version and a user-friendly interface.

Several specialist job boards exist for specialised roles, such as those in the IT or medical research sectors.

Using a profession-based job board allows employers to draw from a more concentrated talent pool while offering job seekers a more significant opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills.

SwissDevJobs.ch is a popular destination for IT professionals, whereas Praxisstellen.ch specialises in pharmaceutical and medical research jobs. SwissTopJobs.ch is an excellent place to look for C-suite jobs in the finance and banking sectors.

Networking is essential

While there is often a perception that job hunting in Switzerland is very process-oriented, you may be surprised to learn that many positions are filled via word of mouth.

Suppose you have friends or former colleagues already found a position within a Swiss firm. In that case, asking what positions are opening and whether you could apply is not unreasonable or rude.

Word of mouth and hiring through connections are common in the Swiss IT field, but they are also common within several other industries, particularly among startups.

Read More: Where are Switzerland’s biggest international companies?

Use your initiative

You may also be surprised to hear that simply applying to a firm with your resume isn’t looked down upon in Switzerland (or the German-speaking world).

This is known as an Initiativbewerbung (or simply ‘application on the initiative’), and employers often regard it very favourably.

To make an Initiativbewerbung, you’ll need your Anschreiben or lettre de motivation (cover letter), Lebenslauf or resume (curriculum vitae or CV), testimonials from other employers, and copies of any relevant certificates or qualifications.

When naming these files, remember to use the German terms—it will help when they are searched for later!

It’s worth taking the time to identify and address your application directly to the head or manager of the particular department you’re looking to work within. This will create a stronger impression, and there’s less chance of losing it in the daily flow of emails and information.

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