Employment: Marked differences across occupational groups
(12.08.2026) Switzerland’s labor market remained subdued in the second quarter of 2026. The number of job vacancies fell by -2.4% compared with the previous quarter and by -0.2% year on year, according to the Swiss Job Market Index published by Adecco and the University of Zurich.
Some occupational groups have been particularly affected by this decline. Highly qualified natural sciences professions (engineers, life sciences specialists, etc.) declined by -18% compared with the same period a year earlier, the steepest decline across all occupational sectors. Sales, administration and commercial occupations fell by -13%, while highly qualified business and economics professions declined by -10%.
According to the study’s authors, these occupational groups are suffering from weak export market conditions and ongoing economic uncertainty. The growing use of artificial intelligence is also expected to weigh on demand for information-intensive occupations.
Demand for workers nevertheless remains strong in several sectors. Highly qualified healthcare professions (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) recorded the strongest growth, at +17%. Skilled trades and industrial occupations also posted a significant increase (+12%), as did office occupations (+9%) and highly qualified IT professions (+6%). This sustained demand is driven by an ageing population, the shortage of qualified healthcare staff, and robust demand in the construction sector.