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Zurich ranked world’s best city for ‘prosperity and social inclusion’

Zurich is the most successful city in the world for social and economic inclusivity, according to a new study.

Published: 25 November 2019 10:51 CET

Zurich ranked world's best city for 'prosperity and social inclusion'

Photo: Depositphotos

The Prosperity & Inclusion City Seal and Awards (PICSA) Index defines inclusive prosperity “as a measure of economic productivity that reflects how far all sectors of the population are empowered to contribute to the economy and share in its benefits”

The survey is based on criteria such as per-capita GDP, quality of life, as well as the residents’ safety, education, housing, environmental quality, access to healthcare, and to internet.

“The cities that ranked on the top of the index have demonstrated world-leading projects and policies that have created inclusive urban centres for all their citizens”, said Bruni Lanvin, founder and CEO of D&L Partners, the consulting firm that conducted the survey on behalf of two Basque institutions.

Zurich scored strongly in all categories, followed by Vienna and Copenhagen in second and third places. Geneva ranks in the 10^th place.

Switzerland’s largest city “scored impressively for work, housing, leisure, education, and safety”, Lanvin said.

He added that Zurich is “a modern, global city planning for the future”.

Zurich is the most prosperous city in the world for its citizens according to the @PICSAindex. The city stood out for its #highquality of life, work and housing as well as educational opportunities. https://t.co/g3nbxdPK3t

— Greater Zurich Area (@GreaterZurich) November 22, 2019

This is not the first time Zurich scores highly in international studies. Merce r Quality of Life survey has ranked it in the second place for several years in a row.

Only two non-European cities were ranked in the top 10: Taipei, Taiwan and Ottawa, Canada took sixth and eighth place respectively.

Luxembourg (4), Helsinki (5), Oslo (7), and Kiel (9) are the other European towns that made it to the top 10. Paris is in the 32^nd place, followed by London in the 33^rd.

Rome, Turin, and Krakow have the lowest rating among cities in Europe.

Globally, two Chinese metropolises, Tianjin and Chongqing, as well as Egypt’s Cairo scored the lowest.

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'Things have changed': Can you get a job in Geneva without speaking French?

Organisations such as the International Red Cross, the World Health Organisation, and the United Nations are either based in Geneva or have a significant presence there.

Furthermore, the Geneva region has a population of over half a million, making it an ideal base for global businesses to reach Swiss (and European) markets.

There is no doubt that the city is a centre of international diplomacy and business and has been for decades.

Having said that, how hard is it to find a job in Switzerland’s largest francophone city? Or indeed anywhere in Suisse Romande in general? Do you have a chance of securing a role without French language skills?

The expert view

Recruiters think you might find it challenging if you’re not planning to work for one of the major international bodies.

Anthony Caffon, Director of Finance at Michael Page, a significant regional recruiter, told The Local: “From our perspective, as a large operator in West Switzerland, only a few roles don’t require candidates to speak French.

“A few years ago, there was indeed a shortage of skills in the market, and coupled with major multinational companies located here, companies were open to employing non-French speakers.

“We now notice a change. French is required in 90 percent of the roles we recruit outside international organisations.

“Organisations would only take on non-French speakers in some highly technical roles, for which there is absolutely no local talent pool,” he said.

‘It was critical for wider job opportunities’

However, when surveyed, readers of The Local had differing perspectives on whether not knowing French was a hindrance to searching for a job in Geneva.

Sofia, an American, responded: “It depends on the job and sector. French is desirable but not required for international organisations, NGOs, and many private companies such as EA Games or financial companies like Barclays.”

However, she noted that speaking French became more essential when settling in the country.

“It was critical for my Swiss naturalisation, but also to have a wider spectrum of job opportunities and better working relationships.”

Generally, to apply for Swiss citizenship in the canton of Geneva, one must achieve French oral B1 and written A2, as set in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Michael, who lives near Lausanne, agreed with Sofia, telling The Local: “It depends if you work for a multinational or a local company.”

“If you work for a multinational or Swiss company, you need French. But you can generally use English in the office at Nestle, BAT, PMI, Novartis, or WHO.”

Another respondent, Phil, believed that speaking French would assist in job searching.

He stated, “I think it depends on your industry. If you work in the pharmaceutical area, then just English is fine.

“If you speak French, however, I think it’s easier to understand the application process and job descriptions.”

A Briton, Katie, thought speaking French could also help smooth the way when starting a new role in Geneva.

She responded: “It shows you are curious about where you live. It helps build relationships with colleagues and, of course, for some jobs, it is needed.”

‘You can get by fine’

Those seeking to work in Geneva who don’t speak French shouldn’t fret just yet.

An anonymous respondent from Ireland told The Local: “Some basic French is needed not to look utterly dysfunctional in casual social settings, but if the business works in English, then that is generally sufficient.

“Once you can complete the technical requirements of your job well, you can get by fine,” they said.

“Some employers will specify that French and English are requirements on the job listings, even if you only need English to do the job.

“Not having any French can put people off applying for many openings when, in fact, they might be fine applying anyway.”

What have you experienced finding a job in Geneva? Did you need French skills? Let us know in the comments.

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