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WORKING IN SWITZERLAND

Jobs in Switzerland roundup: Referendum calls for more nurses

Find out all the latest information related to jobs in Switzerland with The Local's weekly roundup of relevant news.

Swiss will vote in November on solving the health workers shortage.
The shortage of skilled medical workers, here in ICU, is growing in Switzerland. Photo by MARIO TAMA / AFP

The labour market rebound continued in September

The Swiss labour market continued to grow during the summer, confirming the trend that started at the beginning of the year.

According to the recruitment firm Michael Page, the number of job offers across the country rose 5.7 percent between August and September.

So far in 2021, the employment sector has grown 32.3 percent, a rate twice that of the period before the Covid pandemic.

All regions of Switzerland had more job vacancies, with most in an area that includes the two Appenzells, Graubünden, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen and Thurgau.

Job offers also rose in cantons of Bern, Jura, Neuchâtel, Fribourg and Solothurn.

The strongest growth was recorded in retail, restaurant sector, logistics, and IT.

Shortage of medical professionals sparks concern and a referendum

The Covid pandemic highlighted the need for, and the shortage of qualified health personnel in Swiss hospitals, including in the intensive care units.

About 10,000 caregivers are needed urgently right now, with additional 70,500 needed within the next eight years, according to Rebecca Spirig, Director of Nursing at the University Hospital in Zurich.

“As it is, the situation is untenable”, she said.

For many years, Switzerland has relied heavily on medical staff from abroad.

“Without foreign employees, our healthcare system would no longer function. We benefit from people who were trained elsewhere – and who are now absent there. This great dependency is problematic. It is imperative that we train more nurses domestically”, Spirig said.

To that end, the Swiss will vote on November 28th on an initiative launched by The Swiss Association of Nurses, which seeks to train more caregivers and improve the working conditions to prevent dropouts from the profession.

Covid certificate becomes more common in the workplace

As The Local reported recently, more companies in Switzerland now require their employees to have the certificate.

Novartis, Swiss Post, Swiss Re and Zurich insurance companies, and SWISS airline are among a growing number of employers that have introduced this rule, with more seriously considering the certificate requirement as well.

Why is this happening, as employers have no right to demand that their workforce gets inoculated?

Companies still have a legal duty to protect the health and safety of their employees, and many see vaccination as the only way to accomplish this.

You can find out more about this here:

More Swiss companies now require Covid certificate from their employees

Did you know?

Many employers in Switzerland require the new hires to undergo the probation period, lasting between one and three months.

There is no protection against dismissal in the case of illness, accident or pregnancy during this trial period, though some employers may agree to extend it beyond three months in such cases.

While you must inform the company about illness or accident, you are not required by law to reveal your pregnancy, as that cannot be grounds for dismissal.

Useful links

Looking for a job in Switzerland or just want a little more information about working here, then check out the following links: 

Snow business: How to find a job in winter sports in Switzerland

Which jobs pay the most and least after a Swiss apprenticeship?

Are you being underpaid in Switzerland? Here’s how to find out

The jobs roundup is a weekly feature and we’d welcome any feedback or suggestions for areas it should cover. Please email us at [email protected]

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For members

GENEVA NEWS AND GUIDES

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

Geneva must be up there when picturing an international city where language is no barrier. Does this hold true for those looking for a job? 

'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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