2023
Orders are picking up in construction sector
(27.12.2023) Construction activity has slightly rebounded in the third quarter of 2023. The industry records a slight increase of 1.7% on a yearly basis, thereby reducing the deficit for the first three quarters to -4.6%, according to the Swiss Entrepreneurs' Society (SSE).
Increase in VAT as of January 1, 2024
(20.12.2023) Following the Swiss public's endorsement in September 2022 of the amendment to the Federal Law on Old Age and Survivors' Insurance (AVS), the Value Added Tax (VAT) is set to increase starting January 1, 2024.
Pharmaceutical sector weighs down Swiss exports and imports
(13.12.2023) Foreign trade experienced a significant decline in October 2023. The decrease in exchanges in the pharmaceutical industry led to a drop of 10.7% in exports and 4.9% in imports, according to the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (OFDF).
Retail trade calls for regulatory truce
(06.12.2023) Swiss retailers expect a turbulent 2024. Despite a promising 2023, more than a third (36%) of businesses believe that the next fiscal year will end with below-average results, according to the Swiss Retail Federation.
Promising winter for the tourism sector
(22.11.2023) After the trauma of the pandemic, the Swiss tourism sector is continuing its upward trend. While the summer season ended with record numbers, the winter season 2023-2024 is expected to see a growth of +0.4%, according to the forecasts from BAK Economics and SECO.
Create a salary system with the Logib web application
(16.11.2023) As of now, the Confederation is making Logib pay system available: Companies and organisations can use the webtool to develop a simple system for managing functions and salaries based on gender-neutral criteria.
Job market on the rise again
(15.11.2023) Strong headwinds are blowing across the Swiss economic landscape. In October, Raiffeisen's PMI SME index dropped by nearly five points to 45.2. The banking institution highlights the industrial recession in the Eurozone and the appreciation of the franc.
Job market picks up
(08.11.2023) In the third quarter of 2023, the Adecco Swiss Job Market index increased by 7% on a yearly basis, driven particularly by the strength of the mechanical, electrical, and metallurgical (MEM) industries sector.
SME Forum supports extending loss compensation deadline
(01.11.2023) Following the pandemic, Parliament is calling for an extension of the loss compensation period for businesses from seven to ten years. This change is necessary because, under current regulations, businesses may find themselves unable to offset some of their losses with future profits.
Several sectors at risk of bankruptcy
(01.11.2023) The cases of insolvency increased by 8% in the first three quarters of 2023, according to the consulting firm Dun & Bradstreet. Between January 1st and September 30th, 2023, 3,845 companies had to file for bankruptcy in Switzerland, compared to 3,552 in the same period in 2022.
Absences due to mental illnesses are on the rise
(25.10.2023) Workplace absenteeism weighs heavily on the activities of companies. More than one in four SMEs (26%) experienced the negative consequences of absences due to mental health issues in 2022, according to a study on the labor market by the insurance company Axa.
Switzerland remains leader in innovation
(18.10.2023) The Swiss economy has managed to retain its innovation edge. The country retained first place for the thirteenth consecutive year, while Sweden overtook the United States for second position, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 2023 Innovation Index.
Strong rebound in cross-border shopping in first half of the year
(11.10.2023) The retail sector is grappling with intense cross-border competition. According to recent analyses by the Swiss Retail Federation on debit and credit transactions, foreign purchases increased by 10.2% in the first half of 2023 compared to the previous year.
Cybersecurity: companies can do better
(10.04.2023) Cyber threats weigh heavily on the Swiss economy. The swissVR Monitor reveals that 45% of large companies have already been targeted by a cyber attack at least once.
A promising first semester for the hotel industry
(27.09.2023) The tourism sector has recorded a pleasing overall performance in the first half of 2023. According to Switzerland Tourism, accommodation establishments have seen a 3.5% increase in occupancy compared to the same pre-pandemic period in 2019.
Job risk in the industrial sector
(20.09.2023) The economic outlook remains bleak for Swiss industrial companies. Raiffeisen Bank's PMI SME index remained stagnant at 46.3 in August, staying below the expansion threshold and causing experts to worry about employment trends.
Record number of foreign acquisitions by Swiss SMEs
(13.09.2023) While the number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) involving Swiss SMEs decreased between January and June 2023, a record was set for acquisitions by Swiss companies abroad, according to the auditing and consulting firm Deloitte.
Economic conditions on the upswing
(06.09.2023) The Swiss economy is rebounding slightly but remains sluggish. The Swiss Economic Institute's (KOF) barometer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) stands at 92.2 points (+1.5 points compared to June) and therefore remains below the long-term average.
Recent Study Shows: eBill Increasingly Popular
(17.08.2023) According to a recent study, digital eBill invoice is becoming increasingly popular in Switzerland. All this is due to the fact that more and more people know about eBill, use it and are convinced of its benefits.
Asia accounts for half of watch exports
(16.08.2023) Swiss watchmaking continues to increase its foreign sales. According to the Swiss Watch Federation, the industry exported goods worth 13.3 billion francs between January and June 2023, a rise of 11.8% compared to the same period one year earlier.
Transformation works enhance construction efforts
(09.08.2023) In nominal figures, investments in construction increased by 1.8% in 2022. According to the provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office (OFS), expenses in building construction rose by 2.3% and declined by 0.1% in civil engineering.
Late payment delays weigh heavily on economy
(02.08.2023) Late payment delays constitute a significant obstacle to the smooth operation of Swiss businesses. Nearly a quarter of them (24%) report that uncertainties related to this issue disrupt their growth strategy, according to the European Payment Report by the debt collection agency Intrum.
Nearly 2 billion for startups in first semester
(02.08.2023) Investment in start-up enterprises remained robust during the first semester of 2023. According to the audit firm EY, Swiss startups managed to raise CHF 1.92 billion in the initial six months of the year – an increase of 4.16% compared to the previous semester.
Decline in the importance of machinery exports
(26.07.2023) The total value of products exported by the MEM industry has seen relatively little growth in the last 25 years. While the sector accounted for 46.4% of Switzerland's total exports in 1998, it has decreased to only 26% in 2022, according to the Federal Statistical Office (OFS).
Decline in real wages in OECD countries
(26.07.2023) Despite unemployment remaining relatively low, inflation is eroding purchasing power in OECD member economies. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, real wages have decreased by an average of 3.8% between the first quarters of 2022 and 2023.
Labour market stabilizes
(19.07.2023) The strength of the Swiss labor market appears to be declining since the beginning of the year. The Swiss Job Market Index, published quarterly by Adecco and the University of Zurich, indicates that in the second quarter of 2023, employment recorded zero growth rate for the second consecutive time.
Entrepreneurship: Switzerland lags behind
(19.07.2023) In Switzerland, only 38.3% of employed individuals consider starting a business as a good career choice, compared to an average of 65.1% in comparable economies, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2022/2023 report.
Swiss automobile landscape gradually embracing electrification
(12.07.2023) Electric vehicles are making significant strides in Switzerland. According to the Swiss automobile importers association, in 2022, over a quarter (26.1%) of newly registered passenger cars in the country were equipped with electric or plug-in hybrid engines.
Machine industry undergoing period of turbulence
(12.07.2023) The business climate remains mixed for SMEs in the MEM industry. In Q2 2023, the barometer from Swissmechanic and the BAK Institute of Economic Research stood at 10. It's an increase of one point compared to Q1, but a decrease of 15 points year-on-year.
Responsible companies rely on new guidelines
(05.07.2023) As a reference for multinational corporations and SMEs interested in corporate social responsibility (CSR), the OECD Guidelines have recently been updated. The latest version incorporates new themes related to the environment and digitalization.
Switzerland on the podium of global competitiveness
(05.07.2023) In international comparison, the Swiss economy has slightly declined compared to the previous year. The country has moved from second to third place in the "World Competitiveness Ranking" published by the IMD business school in Lausanne and is now behind Denmark and Ireland.
Services sector sees clear economic upturn
(21.06.2023) Swiss business leaders have shown relative optimism at the beginning of 2023. According to a survey conducted by several Swiss universities, the Swiss Managers Survey (SMS) business climate index has increased by 4.2 points compared to 2022.
Exports on the rise again
(21.06.2023) The economic outlook is improving for foreign trade. The Allianz Trade Export Forecast stood at -0.79 in May 2023, which is 0.47 points higher than three months ago. The indicator for Swiss exports is thus approaching its long-term average.
Tourism: Promising outlook for the summer season
(07.06.2023) The tourism sector is experiencing a more favorable period than expected. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich's KOF Economic Research Center predicts an increase of 1.2 million overnight stays (+5%) during the summer, the first since the beginning of the Covid pandemic.
Industrial production up in Q1
(07.06.2023) The Swiss secondary sector has continued its progress since Q1 2021. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), production increased by 2.9% in the first quarter on a year-on-year basis. Its overall turnover also increased by 6.1%.
New agreements facilitate teleworking for cross-border workers
(31.05.2023) Switzerland has recently adjusted the regulatory framework for cross-border workers. While a taxation agreement has been signed with France, another agreement on social security is expected to relax rules for employees residing in Germany and Austria.
The machinery industry fears a challenging economic situation
(31.05.2023)The tech industry (machinery, electrical equipment, metals, and related branches) remains in good shape, with a 4.9% increase in revenue in the first quarter on a year-on-year basis. However, the sector's outlook remains uncertain, according to the Swissmem industry association.
Foreign trade is picking up again
(24.05.2022) After a slowdown in the fourth quarter of 2022, imports and exports rebounded between January and March 2023. According to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), the trade surplus amounts to 8.3 billion francs.
Industrial SMEs hindered by the international economic climate
(24.05.2023) The Swiss economy is suffering from global economic challenges. In April 2023, Raiffeisen’s PMI SME index fell slightly by 0.6 points to 51. The index thus remains within the expansion zone that it regained in March, after two months of contraction.
Biotech Sector Holding Up Well
(17.05.2023) While the global economy faces major economic ups and downs, the Swiss biotech industry is proving resilient. According to the Swiss Biotech Report 2023, the sector's turnover in 2022 amounted to CHF 6.8 billion.
Economic climate: slightly gloomy
(17.05.2023) The Swiss economy is struggling to take off. After a slight uptick in optimism observed in January, the barometer of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich stabilized just below the long-term average in March, before settling at 96.4 points in April.
Digitization of Payment Traffic − Invoices via eBill
(10.05.2023) With eBill for Business, companies can now receive and pay invoices digitally using eBill.
Bankruptcies rise in the first quarter
(10.05.2023) The first quarter of 2023 proved to be catastrophic for many companies in Switzerland. The consulting firm Dun & Bradstreet identified no less than 1,624 bankruptcies between January and March 2023, representing an increase of 36% compared to the same period a year ago.
PostFinance launches secure electronic signature
(03.05.2023) A new system for almost instantaneous authentication of an electronic signature is being introduced in Switzerland. In collaboration with Swisscom and Swiss Post, PostFinance is launching Bankident. The aim is to simplify the usual identity verification procedures for contracts.
Men also turn to part-time work
(03.05.2023) Part-time jobs have significantly increased in Switzerland over the past ten years. The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reports that more than a third of the workforce now opts for part-time work. This type of employment has grown three times more than full-time employment (+14.7% compared to +4.4%).
Circular economy: Switzerland can do better
(26.04.2023) The country's carbon footprint remains too high, while resources are being used inefficiently. Only 6.9% of the raw materials used in Switzerland are recycled, according to the Circularity Gap Report launched by Circular Economy Switzerland and Deloitte Switzerland.
Job market remains in good shape
(26.04.2023) The job market remains robust in Switzerland: there is a 4% increase in the Swiss Job Market Index for the first quarter of 2023 compared to last year. According to the study published by Adecco Group and the University of Zurich, the chances of landing a job are correlated with proficiency in several languages.
Retail trade grows due to inflation
(19.04.2023) Retail sales had a good month in February 2023. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the sector – excluding petrol stations – recorded a year-on-year increase in sales of 3.4%.
Business situation remains stagnant in March
(19.04.2023) The Swiss private sector economy has remained stable since the start of the year. According to the latest report from the Swiss Economic Institute (KOF), the business situation indicator remained unchanged at 27.1 in March compared to February 2023, but declined by 2 points from January.
Nearly 50,000 companies created in 2022
(12.04.2023) The number of new businesses created in Switzerland in 2022 remained high, although it did not reach the record levels seen in 2021. According to the latest Dun&Bradstreet study, 49,964 new companies were established in Switzerland in 2022.
SMEs: orders increase but employment stagnates
(12.04.2023) The Swiss economy has gained momentum in early spring. After a lackluster start to 2023, the Raiffeisen PMI SME index has risen by 1.9 points to 51.6, above the growth threshold and at its highest level since August 2022.
OECD says global economy is improving
(05.04.2023) Boosted in part by the decrease in energy prices, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predicts global economic growth of 2.6% in 2023, which is 0.6 points lower than in 2022. However, caution is still necessary.
Fintech: return to growth in 2022
(05.04.2023) Companies active in financial technologies (fintech) ended 2022 on a positive note. According to a study conducted by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), the sector had 437 companies in 2022, which is a 14% increase compared to 2021.
"Swisstainable Destination", a sustainability program for tourism
(29.03.2023) Starting in April, the Swiss tourism industry will extend its sustainability program Swisstainable to the country's tourist destinations. Launched two years ago and adopted by 1,700 establishments, the tool helps promote the implementation of concrete sustainable measures within the industry.
Boom in Electric Cars
(29.03.2023) The proportion of electric vehicles will increase significantly in the coming years. According to the industry association auto-suisse, almost half of all cars in circulation in 2025 will be rechargeable from the electricity grid, compared with about a quarter in 2022.
Anticipated contraction in foreign trade
(22.03.2023) Swiss exports stagnated in 2022 and will likely remain subdued this year. The Allianz Trade Export Forecast stood at 1.26 points in February 2023, up 0.14 points from the last measurement in November 2022.
Entrepreneurial climate improves
(22.03.2023) Despite a few shortcomings, Switzerland remains a favorable country for entrepreneurship. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's (GEM) National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI), the country ranks 8th with a score of 5.8. This is Switzerland's highest ranking since 2019.
Economic situation continue to improve
(15.03.2023) Switzerland's economy is maintaining its upward trajectory, which started in December 2022. After nine months of below-average performance, the barometer of the Swiss Economic Institute (KOF) at ETH Zurich reached 100.03 points in February 2023.
Machine industry: good performance but mixed prospects
(15.03.2023) The machinery industry, electrical equipment industry, and metal industry (MEM) along with related technological sectors are performing better than expected. Swissmem, the umbrella organization for the MEM sector, reported that despite the decline in international orders in the third quarter of 2022, industry sales increased by 9.4% for the year.
Close to 4 billion invested in start-ups
(08.03.2023) Switzerland remains a fertile ground for start-ups. According to the Swiss Venture Capital Report published by the information portal startupticker.ch, start-up investment has increased by almost 30% in one year, despite the relatively unfavorable economic climate.
Slight rise in employment in Q4 2022
(08.03.2023) The number of people employed in Switzerland rose slightly to 5.242 million at the end of 2022. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the unemployment rate (ILO) stood at 4.1% in Q4 2022, 0.3 percentage points lower than the previous year.
Covid restrictions: impact on SMEs two years on
(01.03.2023) A study conducted by the Geneva School of Business Administration (HEG-GE) shows that the pandemic led to a 14% loss of turnover on average between 2019 and 2020 among SMEs in French-speaking Switzerland. The impact of the restrictions varied, however, depending on their coping strategy.
Break-ins down but looting up
(01.03.2023) The number of break-ins reported by Swiss companies has decreased over the last 15 years, but prudence is still advised. According to a press release from the insurer AXA, nearly 1'300 incidents took place in 2022, with average damages of CHF 6'000.
Drop in SME production
(22.02.2023) Despite a reported recovery of the Swiss economic environment, the situation is still tense for SMEs at the start of the year. The Raiffeisen SME PMI stood at 48 in January 2023, below the expansion threshold and down 2.5 points compared to December 2022.
Economic outlook improves
(22.02.2023) After a turbulent fall 2022, the Swiss economy seems to be recovering gradually. The Swiss Economic Institute ETH Zurich’s (KOF) Economic Barometer continued its upward trend and reached 97.2 points in January 2023, an increase of 5.7 points compared to December 2022.
A record year for mergers and acquisitions in 2022
(15.02.2022) Economic uncertainties have not shaken the M&A market. According to consulting firm KPMG, 647 mergers and acquisitions with Swiss involvement were completed in 2022, with a transaction volume of USD 138.5 billion.
Rising prices boost foreign trade
(15.02.2022) Exports and imports reached record highs in 2022. According to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), exports increased by 7.2% in nominal terms, while imports surged by 16.8%.
CEOs expect 2023 to be challenging
(08.02.2023) Swiss business leaders fear that the year 2023 will be a mixed bag. Of the 95 CEOs questioned in the "Annual Global CEO Survey", published by the consultancy firm PWC, only 20% expect an increase in turnover in the next twelve months.
Boom in watchmaking industry employment
(08.02.2023) The number of people employed in the watch industry has risen sharply over the past year. As of September 30, 2022, 60,823 people worked for a company in this industry, an increase of 5.8% compared to 2021, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH).
New record for job market
(01.02.2023) The economic downturn has not affected the demand for labor. The Swiss Job Market Index, published by the Adecco Group and the University of Zurich, shows that Swiss companies are still looking to hire, with an increase of 23% in 2022.
Exchange rates: companies protect themselves
(01.02.2023) Businesses are wary of the economic outlook. According to Credit Suisse's currency survey, which polled more than 1,000 companies, almost one in two entrepreneurs has hedged at least partially against exchange rate risks.
Training strongly impacts salary levels
(25.01.2023) The median income of employees with professional education and training (PET) has increased significantly. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), they earn a median salary of CHF 7,800 six years after graduation.
New services on EasyGov platform
(25.01.2023) As of December 15, 2022, the "VAT-declaration easy" service, with which companies can declare their taxable income online, became available on the EasyGov platform. In Thurgau, a pilot project is underway to enable work permit applications for third-country nationals.
Swiss economy improved slightly in December
(18.01.2023) ETHZ’s Center for Economic Studies (KOF) Barometer indicated a slight rebound in the Swiss economy at the end of 2022. In December, it stood at 92.2, up 3 points from the previous month and 1.3 points higher than in October.
WTO sees slowdown in global trade
(18.01.2023) World services trade activity weakened in the fourth half of 2022 and would remain lackluster in early 2023, according to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Services Trade Barometer.
Pharma, the driving force behind R&D in Switzerland
(11.01.2023) Research and development (R&D) is becoming increasingly important in Switzerland. In 2021, companies spent almost CHF 17 billion and employed about 62,000 people in research, according to a study by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) and economiesuisse.
Sharp rise in bankruptcies in 2022
(11.01.2023) Bankruptcies have risen sharply in Switzerland. More than 4'300 companies closed down between January and November 2022, an increase of 21% compared to the previous year, according to the consulting firm Dun & Bradstreet. On the other hand, the number of new businesses is decreasing.
Company law: new regulations
(04.01.2023) Adopted by Parliament in June 2020, the reform of the law on public limited companies (AGs) came into force on January 1, 2023. The new provisions aim, among other things, to relax the rules on capital and foundation and to allow the formation of share capital in foreign currency.
SMEs divided over sustainability strategies
(04.01.2023) Amidst soaring energy prices, many SMEs are taking steps towards sustainability. According to a survey by the insurance company AXA, almost half of the SMEs have a strategy in this regard, a figure that rises to 84% among SMEs with more than 50 employees.
