The current employment rate is the lowest its been since 1993, with 85,000 fewer people employed now than at the same time in 2019. 

Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office, which puts together the figures, also found that those who are employed are working fewer hours – a decrease of 9.5 when compared to the same period last year. 

READ: How coronavirus has devastated the Swiss job market 

In total, there are 223,000 unemployed people in Switzerland. 

The crisis has hit younger people particularly hard, with the employment rate for people aged between 15-24 climbing from 6.2 percent to 8.4 percent, compared to 4.2 to 4.6 percent among the general population. 

Locals hit harder

Native Swiss have been harder hit by the pandemic, with the number of employed Swiss falling by 2.4 percent compared to 0.2 percent for foreigners. 

People on short term work permits were the hardest hit, with a 16.2 percent drop in employment.