2025
Uncertainty persists despite reduction in U.S. tariff rates
(24.12.2025) Global economic activity remained stable in November 2025. Supported mainly by order books, Raiffeisen Bank’s SME PMI rose marginally (+0.1) to 50.3 points, thereby remaining in expansion territory.
Cyberattacks: companies believe they are poorly protected
(17.12.2025) Cyber threats continue to put pressure on Swiss companies. In 2025, 5% reported having been subjected to blackmail over the past three years, and 4% said they had transferred funds to fraudsters, according to the study "PME Cybersécurité 2025".
Pessimism is gaining ground among SMEs
(10.12.2025) Swiss SMEs are increasingly concerned about their prospects: only 52% assess their future economic situation positively. This is 16 points lower than in 2024 (68%), according to the 2025 SME Study conducted by the association swiss.export and the consulting firm Kearney.
MEM industry shows signs of cautious recovery in third quarter
(03.12.2025) The Swiss machinery, electrical equipment and metals (MEM) industry is struggling to return to growth. Its overall turnover increased by +3% in the third quarter of 2025 but fell by -0.7% over the first nine months of the year, according to the umbrella organization Swissmem.
Swiss companies fear rise in cybercrime
(26.11.2025) Cyberattacks remain by far the main concern for Swiss employers. According to a study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), more than eight out of ten companies (81.6 percent) expect a significant increase in cyberattacks in 2026.
Slight increase in tourism expected this winter
(19.11.2025) Tourist numbers in Switzerland continue to rise. For the 2025 to 2026 winter season, an increase in overnight stays of +0.9% year on year is expected (18.7 million / +161,000), according to forecasts by the consultancy BAK Economics.
Sharp decline in administrative jobs in Switzerland
(12.11.2025) Switzerland’s labor market remains under pressure from the economic climate and technological advances. In the third quarter of 2025, the number of job openings fell by 5.6% year-on-year, according to the Swiss Job Market Index compiled by Adecco and the University of Zurich.
AI gains ground among Swiss SMEs
(05.11.2025) Artificial intelligence is spreading rapidly across the Swiss business landscape. Between 2024 and 2025, the share of SMEs that incorporated this tool rose from 22% to 34%, according to AXA’s annual labour-market study.
SME portal checks user satisfaction
(30.10.2025) The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) provides reliable information for small and medium-sized enterprises in Switzerland through the SME Portal (kmu-portal.admin.ch). This survey aims to assess the value of the portal for you as a user and to identify areas for improvement.
Shopping tourism continues to grow
(29.10.2025) Swiss residents continue to favor shopping in neighboring countries. In 2025, they spent nearly CHF 9.2 billion in retail trade abroad, around 10% more than in 2022, according to the 2025 Shopping Tourism Survey conducted by the University of St. Gallen.
Modest economic recovery in September
(22.10.2025) Economic prospects remain mixed at the end of the third quarter of 2025. In September, the KOF Economic Barometer of ETH Zurich reached 98 points – 1.8 points higher than the previous month – and remains below the long-term average (100).
Switzerland remains the world’s most innovative country
(08.10.2025) Switzerland has topped the global innovation rankings for the 15th consecutive year. Sweden (2nd) and the United States (3rd) also retain their positions, according to the 2025 Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Turnover down in the second quarter
(01.10.2025) The Swiss economy experienced a mixed second quarter in 2025. Overall turnover fell by 2% compared with the same period a year earlier, while employment grew by only 0.1%, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Sharp rise in bankruptcies… and in business start-ups in 2025
(24.09.2025) A record number of Swiss companies had to cease operations due to insolvency. In August 2025, the number of liquidation proceedings surged by nearly 54% to 1,209 cases, according to figures published by the creditors’ association Creditreform.
Recovery prospects weakening under customs pressure
(17.09.2025) Orders are becoming scarcer for Swiss companies. In August, Raiffeisen Bank’s SME PMI index was revised down (-0.6 points) to 49.7. This is the first time the indicator has fallen below the growth threshold since March 2025.
Concerns in the tech sector
(10.09.2025) The Swiss tech industry (machinery, electrical equipment, metals, and related technology sectors) is going through a difficult period. In the second quarter of 2025, order volumes fell by 13.4% compared with the previous quarter, according to the industry association Swissmem.
The shift towards service-sector employment continues
(03.09.2025) Between 2011 and 2023, almost 770,000 jobs were created in Switzerland, mainly in the services sector, according to the latest Structural Business Statistics (STATENT) from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Imports and exports affected by downturn in pharmaceutical sector
(27.08.2025) Foreign trade slowed in the 2nd quarter of 2025. Exports declined by -5.3% and imports by -7.1% compared with the previous quarter. The trade surplus amounted to CHF 13.4 billion, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).
Slowdown in job market
(20.08.2025) Job vacancies declined slightly in Q2 2025. Their number fell by 1% compared to the previous quarter, and by 3% year-on-year, according to the Swiss Job Market Index compiled by Adecco and the University of Zurich.
Trust in the United States is deteriorating
(13.08.2025) Swiss business leaders express growing mistrust toward U.S. trade policy. More than 70% of senior executives believe that the threat of tariffs and the resulting geopolitical tensions have weighed on the Swiss economy, according to the Swiss Manager Survey 2025, conducted in May.
High US tariffs threaten Swiss exports
(11.08.2025) Since 7 August, Swiss exports to the US have been subject to a 39 per cent tariff. Switzerland considers this drastic levy to be unjustified and a considerable burden on local export companies.
Automotive market slows in first half of 2025
(06.08.2025) The Swiss automotive market continues to weaken. In June 2025, 21,810 new passenger cars were registered in Switzerland, a decline of 3.9% compared to the same month in 2024, according to the umbrella association of vehicle importers, Auto-Suisse.
Unemployment up 20% in one year
(23.07.2025) The Swiss job market remained stable in June 2025. Unemployment fell slightly, with 1,067 fewer registered individuals (-0.8%) than in May, but rose sharply year-on-year (+21.4%), according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Instability is affecting exports
(16.07.2025) Swiss SMEs showed modest improvement in June compared to May 2025, with the Raiffeisen SME PMI rising by 1.9 points to 52.4. However, a gap emerged between domestic and international markets: exporters' order books remain flat.
Uncertainty clouds outlook for Swiss businesses
(09.07.2025) Global economic headwinds continue to weigh on Switzerland’s economy. Growth is expected to slow to 1.1% of GDP in 2025, before rising to 1.4% in 2026 – still below its potential – according to the umbrella organization Economiesuisse.
Switzerland, world leader in competitiveness
(02.07.2025) Switzerland’s economy has risen by one position in the global ranking of the world’s most competitive countries. For the first time since 2021, the Confederation once again tops the World Competitiveness Ranking published by the IMD Business School in Lausanne, ahead of Singapore and Hong Kong.
Crowdfunding benefits from lower key rates
(25.06.2025) After declining by nearly 15% in 2022 and 2023, the volume of funds raised dropped by only 1.5% last year, to 550.2 million Swiss francs, according to the Crowdfunding Monitor Schweiz from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU).
Tourism: slight rebound expected this summer
(18.06.2025) Switzerland’s tourism sector is looking forward to a positive summer season in 2025. Forecasts point to 21 million overnight stays – a 0.7% rise compared to summer 2024. This growth is expected to continue into the winter (+0.5%), according to the KOF Swiss Economic Institute.
Working hours remain stable
(11.06.2025) The Swiss worked more than 8 billion hours in 2024. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of 0.1%, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Swiss tech sector stalls
(04.06.2025) Switzerland’s machinery, electrical equipment, and metals (MEM) industries are struggling to regain momentum. In the first quarter of 2025, total revenue declined by 3% year-on-year, while orders remained flat (–0.3%), according to the umbrella association Swissmem.
Small and medium-sized enterprises remain optimistic!
(28.05.2025) Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises are looking to the future with confidence. According to Raiffeisen Bank’s 2024 SME study, 69% of employers rate their economic situation as 'good' or even 'very good,' while only 3% report experiencing difficulties.
Surge in investment in Swiss biotech sector
(21.05.2025) The biotechnology industry generated stable revenues of 7.2 billion Swiss francs in 2024, while fundraising and investments rose sharply (+25%) to 2.5 billion, according to the Swiss Biotech Report 2025.
Real wages rise in 2024
(14.05.2025) Overall, Swiss workers were better paid in 2024 than in 2023. The Swiss nominal wage index rose by 1.8% year-on-year. Real wages, adjusted for inflation, increased by 0.7%, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Employment rebounds slightly
(07.05.2025) The labor market is showing resilience at the start of the year. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of job vacancies rose by 2% compared to the previous quarter, according to the Swiss Job Market Index compiled by Adecco and the University of Zurich.
Switzerland signs free trade agreement with Malaysia
(30.04.2025) The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – of which Switzerland is a member – signed a free trade agreement with Malaysia on April 11. In 2024, the trade in goods between Switzerland and Malaysia amounted to over 1.4 billion francs, according to economiesuisse.
The economic situation remained mixed at the start of 2025
(16.04.2024) Uncertainty continued to weigh on Swiss industrial activity in March. Raiffeisen Bank’s SME Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell by two points to 47.9, after coming close to the expansion threshold in February (49.9).
Record number of patents filed in 2024
(09.04.2025) Switzerland boasts the highest density of inventions in the world. Nearly 10,000 patent applications were filed in 2024 – equivalent to 1,140 per million inhabitants. That’s a rate twice as high as Sweden’s (472), which holds second place in the Patent Index 2024.
Swiss exports affected by US tariff increases
(03.04.2025) On 3 April the Federal Council took note of the US government's announcements on the imposition of wide-ranging tariffs. These will affect all of the USA’s trading partners including Switzerland. The Federal Council will analyse the measures and their impact on Switzerland in greater detail. It is in contact with the affected industries and the US authorities. The Federal Council has instructed the EAER to begin preparatory work on a possible solution with the USA.
Fintech: the slowdown continues in 2024
(02.04.2025) Switzerland’s financial technology sector remained flat at the end of 2024, with exactly the same number of fintech companies as the previous year (483). Meanwhile, funding also slowed, according to the IFZ FinTech Study 2025 by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Industry and services closed 2024 with mixed results
(26.03.2025) Turnover in the secondary and tertiary sectors declined in the fourth quarter of 2024. Year-on-year, it decreased by -1.4%. Employment, however, rose by +0.5% over the same period, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Critical infrastructure cyberattacks must be reported
(19.03.2025) As of April 1, 2025, operators of critical infrastructure will be required to report any cyberattack to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity (OFCS) within 24 hours of detection.
Mixed annual results for foreign trade
(12.03.2025) Swiss exports of goods reached an all-time high in 2024, totaling 282.9 billion francs (+3.2%). However, the strong performance of the pharmaceutical sector stood in sharp contrast to declines across other industries, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).
The industry boosts Swiss mergers and acquisitions
(05.03.2025) The number of M&A transactions remained stable in 2024, but the amounts committed increased. According to KPMG, more than 450 merger and acquisition deals were completed during the year for a total volume of almost 115 billion dollars (+43 billion / +59.7%).
Employment falls to its lowest point in three years
(26.02.2025) The labour market is tightening in Switzerland. The economic downturn has led to a decline of 10% in job vacancies throughout 2024 and as much as 13% in the fourth quarter, according to the Swiss Job Market Index published by Adecco and the University of Zurich.
Possibility of interest rate adjustment for COVID-19 credits at end of March 2025
(25.02.2025) ) As stipulated by law, the interest rates for COVID-19 credits are reviewed by the Federal Council on 31 March each year and adjusted to market conditions if necessary. At the end of March, the Federal Council could therefore potentially adjust the current interest rates of 1.5% for outstanding credits of up to CHF 500,000, and 2% for those exceeding CHF 500,000.
Discontinuation of the direct debit procedures LSV+/BDD as of 30 September 2028
(25.02.2025) The existing direct debit procedures LSV+/BDD will be discontinued as of 30 September 2028. This means that invoice issuers need to take action. They must decide at in good time which format they wish to use for future invoicing and initiate the corresponding coordination with their financial institution and software partner.
Swiss executives bet on growth
(19.02.2025) Swiss senior executives are starting the year 2025 with optimism. More than half (56%) of business leaders expect global economic growth over the next twelve months, according to PwC’s Annual Global CEO Survey.
Electric cars hit the brakes in 2024
(12.02.2025) The Swiss automotive market saw a 5% year-on-year decline in 2024, with sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles dropping by 12.5% and 10.4%, respectively, according to Auto-Suisse, the umbrella association of importers.
Gas could play a crucial role in an energy crisis
(05.02.2025) A study conducted by ETH Zurich (EPFZ) and ZHAW has assessed the resilience of Switzerland’s energy supply system. The findings indicate that even with a 70% reduction in electricity imports, the country could meet its energy needs for a full year without requiring exceptional measures.
Increase in R&D expenditures in 2023
(29.01.2025) The private sector continues to intensify its investments in research and development (R&D). In 2023, nearly 18 billion Swiss francs were allocated to companies, reflecting an annual growth rate of 3.5% since 2021, according to a study conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Outlook: no definitive recovery in sight
(22.01.2025) The 2024 fiscal year closed on a mixed note with uncertain prospects. The KOF Economic Barometer from ETH Zurich fell by 3.4 points in December, settling at 99.5. Following an uptick in November (102.9), it once again dipped below the long-term average.
New record for business creation in Switzerland
(15.01.2025) Entrepreneurship is thriving in Switzerland. In 2024, a total of 52,978 new companies were registered in the commercial registry – an increase of 1,341 compared to the previous year (+2.6%). The fourth quarter alone saw nearly 14,000 new businesses created, according to the Institut für Jungunternehmen (IFJ).
Innovation on the decline in Switzerland
(08.01.2025) R&D investments declining in Swiss SMEs. The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) has launched a research project to investigate the causes of this decline and propose solutions, as innovation is a strategic priority for the economy.
