Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

JOBS

Why Switzerland is still ranked top of the league for skilled workers

Switzerland has maintained its first place in global talent competitiveness rankings released during the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. But why?

Published: 24 January 2020 10:06 CET
Why Switzerland is still ranked top of the league for skilled workers
FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

The Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) ranks Switzerland in the first place out of 132 nations surveyed.

The country earned the top spot for the eighth consecutive year, ever since the Index was launched in 2013 by the recruiting agency Adecco, INSEAD Business School, and Google.

 “Switzerland remains the outright leader in the GTCI by virtue of its strong performances in almost every dimension”, the study’s authors said.

The country got high scores in its ability to attract, enable, and retain skilled workers.

A good indication of its strong talent competitiveness across the board is that it placed well with respect to vocational and technical skills, as well as lifelong learning and sustainability.

The US and Singapore follow in the second and third places, respectively. But seven out of 10 top countries are in Europe: Sweden (4), Denmark (5), Netherlands (6), Finland (7), Luxembourg (8), and Norway (9).

However, Switzerland did not do as well in terms of gender equality and tolerance of minorities and immigrants, the study noted.

In the overall ranking of the competitiveness of 155 individual cities, Zurich is in the 17th place, scoring highly in terms of advanced technologies, including fintech and medtech. 

Geneva, in the 34th place, does well in areas such as environment and safety. 

New York tops the city ranking, followed by London, Singapore, San Francisco and Boston.

Switzerland also clinched the top spot in an earlier international survey of countries most attractive to skilled workers. 

READ MORE: Why Switzerland has been ranked 'best country' in the world once again

 

 

 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

JOBS

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

Looking for a new job in Switzerland? We've put together some tips on where to search for that new role.

Published: 8 March 2024 15:58 CET
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. 

SHOW COMMENTS