2026
SME financing remains robust but is tightening
(07.10.2026) Swiss banks granted CHF 562 billion in credit lines to companies with fewer than 250 employees in 2024 (+1.8% year on year). However, this increase masks a tightening of financing for SMEs, according to the OECD report on financing SMEs and entrepreneurs.
Medtech performing well but hiring little and investing less
(30.09.2026) The Swiss medical technology industry is performing relatively well: its revenue has grown by +5.5% per year over the past two years, twice as fast as the economy as a whole, according to the 2026 study by industry association Swiss Medtech.
A consultation draft to regulate AI will be drawn up by early 2027
(23.09.2026) By signing the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Switzerland has committed to making the necessary amendments to Swiss law in order to strengthen the country’s position as a location for innovation, safeguard fundamental rights and increase public trust in AI.
Wages expected to rise only slightly next year
(23.09.2026) The 2026 wage negotiations are expected to be broadly satisfactory. Companies anticipate an average increase in nominal wages of +1.2% by July 2027, according to the quarterly survey conducted by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.
Unemployment rises among higher education graduates
(16.09.2026) The job market is becoming more challenging for graduates of Swiss higher education institutions. Between 2023 and 2025, the unemployment rate (as defined by the ILO) among master’s degree holders rose from 3.9% to 6.4%, and among bachelor's degree holders from 3.4% to 4.9%, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Sick leave is costly for SMEs
(09.09.2026) Employee absences are becoming an increasingly important economic issue for Swiss companies. More than two in five SMEs (42%) report increased costs associated with sick leave over the past five years, according to AXA’s 2026 study on the SME labor market.
SMEs torn between optimism and caution
(26.08.2026) The economic situation for Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises improved slightly this summer. After a mixed start to the year, the Raiffeisen SME PMI rose from 49.4 to 50.7 points between June and July 2026.
Summer 2026: Economic outlook continues to improve
(19.08.2026) Switzerland's economic outlook improved further in July. The KOF Economic Barometer of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich rose by 1.4 points to 103.5, up from 102.1 in June 2026, and by 3.2 points compared with July 2025 (100.3).
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.
Electric vehicle uptake continues to grow slowly
(05.08.2026) The Swiss passenger car market returned to growth in the first half of 2026. A total of 116,584 new passenger cars were registered in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, 36.3% of which were plug-in vehicles, according to the industry association Auto-Suisse.
Switzerland ranks third in global competitiveness
(29.07.2026) Switzerland remains one of the world's most competitive economies. However, it has slipped two places compared with 2025, placing third in the 2026 World Competitiveness Ranking by IMD Business School in Lausanne, behind Singapore and Hong Kong.
SECO’s SME Portal unveils new look
(23.07.2026) Since July 9, 2026, the SME Portal of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has been offering small and medium-sized enterprises even easier access to practical information, digital government services, and current topics. This comprehensive relaunch improves user-friendliness, makes navigation easier, and lays the technical foundation for the portal’s ongoing development.
Tourism: record winter season for hotels
(22.07.2026) The Swiss hotel industry achieved another record-breaking performance during the 2025/2026 winter season. Between November and April, the sector recorded 18.7 million overnight stays, an increase of 1.1% compared with the 2024/2025 winter season, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
AI is becoming widespread in Swiss companies
(15.07.2026) Artificial intelligence is becoming a standard workplace tool across Swiss companies. According to an EY survey of 604 employees, 89% use AI solutions on a daily basis.
Planned investment set to rise in 2026
(08.07.2026) Swiss companies are expected to increase investment significantly in 2026. After a decline of -1.7% in 2025, investment is forecast to increase by +10.2%, according to the Spring Survey conducted by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.
Swiss SMEs face growing strategic challenges
(24.06.2026) The economic environment for Swiss SMEs has deteriorated significantly. The overall score of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) SME Barometer 2026 fell to -7.3 points in the second quarter of 2026, the lowest level recorded since the survey was launched in 2021.
Employment rises in the first quarter of 2026
(17.06.2026) The Swiss labor market showed a positive trend during the first three months of the year. Total employment increased by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Tech industry: slight recovery in the first quarter
(10.06.2026) The machinery, electrical equipment and metals industry, together with related technology sectors, continued to show positive development in Switzerland. Compared with the same period last year, sales increased by 3.4% in the first quarter of 2026, according to Swissmem.
Swiss biotech industry reaches new records
(03.06.2026) Switzerland's biotechnology industry reported a strong year in 2025. According to the Swiss Biotech Report 2026, the sector generated revenues of CHF 7.5 billion, up from CHF 7.2 billion in 2024, while continuing to attract international investment.
Lower wage costs and more AI in companies
(27.05.2026) Swiss companies’ CFOs are reassessing their priorities. Nearly half (46%) expect wage expenses to decrease in the medium term through the use of artificial intelligence, according to the latest survey by Deloitte Switzerland.
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Swiss exports at their lowest level since 2021
(20.05.2026) Swiss foreign trade slowed sharply in the first quarter of 2026. Exports fell by -4.2% to CHF 66.9 billion, their lowest level since the third quarter of 2021, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).
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Employment shows a slight uptick
(13.05.2026) The Swiss labor market continues to stabilize. In the first quarter of 2026, the number of job vacancies increased by +0.7% compared with the same quarter in 2025, and by +0.8% year-on-year, according to the Swiss Job Market Index.
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Increase in ransomware and “phishing” cyberattacks
(06.05.2026) Cyber threats remain high in Switzerland. In the second half of 2025, 29,006 incidents were reported voluntarily, in addition to 145 mandatory reports. This is shown by the semi-annual report of the Swiss Federal Office for Cybersecurity (OFCS).
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Global economy holds firm
(29.04.2026) Global economic activity continued its moderate growth in April, amid uncertainty surrounding the conflict between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other. Both indicators from the KOF Swiss Economic Institute remained above the 100-point threshold.
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War in the Middle East could slow recovery
(22.04.2026) Swiss industrial SMEs are continuing their recovery. Between February and March 2026, the Raiffeisen SME PMI rose by 1.5 points to 55.0 points. However, the geopolitical environment is beginning to weigh on investment plans.
Female employment stagnates
(15.04.2026) Progress for women in the Swiss labor market remains limited. The country rose from 21st to 20th place in the international ranking of the "Women in Work Index 2026" published by PwC, but its overall score remains unchanged at 68.7 points.
Fintech: growth slows
(01.04.2026) The financial technology market continues to grow, but at a more moderate pace than in recent years. At the end of 2025, there were 529 fintech companies in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, representing a 4% increase compared with 2024, according to the IFZ FinTech 2026 study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Increasing labor shortage in Switzerland
(25.03.2026) Switzerland is facing an increasing structural labor shortage. According to a study by the Centre for Economic Research (KOF), around 400,000 workers are expected to be lacking in the labor market over the next ten years.
Tourism: record overnight stays in 2025
(18.03.2026) The Swiss hotel industry achieved a historic result for the third consecutive year. The sector recorded 43.9 million overnight stays in 2025, an increase of 2.6% compared with 2024, according to the final results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Record exports driven by chemicals and pharmaceuticals
(11.03.2026) Swiss exports reached a new record level in 2025. Swiss exports totaled CHF 287.0 billion, an increase of +1.4%, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).
Strong increase in mergers and acquisitions
(04.03.2026) Swiss SMEs recorded a strong rebound in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in 2025. The total number of transactions reached 208, representing an increase of +16% compared with 2024, according to the annual study conducted by Deloitte.
SMEs target new markets
(25.02.2026) While the European industrial climate remains subdued, Swiss companies showed a slight improvement in January 2026. The Raiffeisen Bank SME PMI rose by 0.8 points to 50.2, thereby moving back above the growth threshold.
Possibility of interest rate adjustment for COVID-19 credits at end of March 2026
(25.02.2026) 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 0.25 % for outstanding credits of up to CHF 500,000, and 0.75 % for those exceeding CHF 500,000.
Artificial intelligence begins to weigh on the labor market
(18.02.2026) The Swiss labor market is showing signs of stabilization after a difficult period. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the number of job vacancies rose by +1.8% quarter over quarter, but remains down -4% year over year, according to the Swiss Job Market Index.
Discontinuation of the direct debit procedures LSV+/BDD as of 30 September 2028
(12.02.2026) 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.
Watchmaking industry remains under pressure
(11.02.2026) Swiss watchmaking closed the 2025 financial year in decline amid global uncertainty. Exports fell by -1.7% to CHF 25.6 billion, marking a second consecutive year of contraction, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH).
Increase in sales of electric commercial vehicles in a sluggish market
(04.02.2026) The automotive market suffered a significant setback in the commercial vehicle segment. In 2025, only 38’707 commercial vehicles were registered, down -8,3% compared with the previous year, according to the umbrella association auto-suisse.
Entrepreneurial activity remains stable in Switzerland
(28.01.2026) Switzerland continues to offer favorable framework conditions for entrepreneurs. "Early-stage entrepreneurial activity" (TEA, companies less than three-and-a-half years old) accounted for 9.9% of the working population in 2024, according to the GEM Switzerland National Report 2024/2025 by the Fribourg School of Management.
Record number of new businesses created in 2025
(21.01.2026) Swiss entrepreneurship continues to develop very positively. In 2025, 55'654 new companies were registered in the commercial register, representing an increase of 5.1% compared with 2024, according to the latest annual report from the Institut für Jungunternehmen (IFJ).
Business conditions weaken at the end of 2025
(14.01.2026) Swiss companies are again more optimistic about their medium-term business outlook, although the overall situation remains mixed. In December 2025, the business situation indicator of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute stood at 10.9 (-1.0 points).
Industry resilience deemed insufficient
(07.01.2026) Swiss industrial companies lack visibility across their supply chains. As regulatory and geopolitical risks intensify, only 14% of companies plan to prioritize strengthening their resilience to shocks, according to consultancy Dun & Bradstreet.