Shorter workweeks continue to gain ground in Switzerland
Average weekly working hours continue to decline, and more men are choosing to work part time. Is this a cause for concern for employers? What challenges does this trend present for SMEs, which are often less flexible than large companies when it comes to adapting working conditions and filling staffing gaps?
The average weekly working time for Swiss employees working full time fell by 50 minutes between 2019 and 2024, reaching 40 hours and 4 minutes. "Working hours declined rapidly during the 20th century. We went from more than 60 hours per week in the early 1900s to around 42 hours in the 1990s," says Michael Siegenthaler, Head of the Swiss Labor Market Research Division at the KOF Swiss Economic Institute. "Today, the decline continues, but at a slower pace. As in the last century, the main reason is higher productivity driven by technological progress. In other words, people no longer need to work as many hours as before to achieve the same level of income."
According to Cédric Tille, Professor of Economics at the Geneva Graduate Institute, shorter working hours are one way employees benefit from productivity gains. "As income rises, the share spent on essential goods and services such as food declines, while spending on leisure increases. Leisure includes travel and hotels, but also free time." The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift. "Average weekly working hours fell sharply during the pandemic and recovered only partially after 2020 and 2021 because employees began to reconsider their priorities, and employers recognized this change in their workforce."
The increase in employee absences, particularly for health-related reasons (+0.9 days between 2023 and 2024), has also contributed to the decline in average weekly working hours. According to Michael Siegenthaler, other "mechanical" factors also play a role. "For example, many collective labor agreements and companies grant five or six weeks of vacation to employees over the age of 50. As the number of workers in this age group continues to grow in Switzerland, this also affects the national average."
Another trend has emerged in recent years: the proportion of men working part time has increased. It rose from 17.3% in 2019 to 21.1% in 2024. Some, particularly younger workers, want more free time. "This trend remains relatively limited at the European level," says Caroline Straub, Professor at the Institute for New Work at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. "In most other countries, people need to work close to full time simply to earn enough to support their families, or even themselves." Across all working arrangements, Switzerland records an average working week of 35 hours and 17 minutes, slightly below the European average of 35 hours and 32 minutes.
Not becoming "lazier"
According to KOF researcher Michael Siegenthaler, the Swiss have not become "lazier." "Men are spending more time on household responsibilities, sometimes by working part time, while women are participating in the labor market in greater numbers by increasing their employment rate. As a result, once childcare and household responsibilities are taken into account, couples have tended to have less free time over the past 25 years."
Caroline Straub also points out that many people are simply unable to work full time. "Some work 60% because they are returning to work after burnout or because they have physical health conditions, for example. It is not a matter of choice."
A factor in employment negotiations
As a reflection of long-term economic and social change, shorter working hours mean that companies increasingly need to view attractive working conditions as a strategic factor in remaining competitive. Should employers be concerned when employees choose to work, for example, 70% of a full-time schedule in order to enjoy more free time, or ask for an additional week of vacation? "This is a factor that companies need to take into account when planning their workforce and during recruitment negotiations, just like salary," says Cédric Tille.
Although still relatively uncommon in Switzerland, the four-day workweek may become an attractive option in this context. "In low-wage sectors such as healthcare and construction, reducing working hours may seem unrealistic," says Caroline Straub of the Bern University of Applied Sciences. "However, there are options available. Companies in these sectors approach us because they want to retain employees and prevent staff from leaving for health-related reasons. We are currently supporting a construction company, a sector in which incentives such as remote work are not feasible. That is why a reduction in working hours can be a major benefit. We are seeing a very positive response from construction workers, who now have more time for their families while continuing to receive the same pay."