(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.
The phenomenon has particularly affected the Zurich region (816 cases, +38%) and Central Switzerland (546 cases, +25%), although no region has been spared. With 975 cases, the Lake Geneva region recorded an increase of 21% in bankruptcies – a figure similar to the national average. Next in line are the Mittelland (704 cases, +19%), Ticino (300 cases, +17%), Northwestern Switzerland (536 cases, +11%) and Eastern Switzerland (472 cases, +10%).
According to the authors of the study, the sectors most at risk are the wood and furniture industry (4.42 times higher than the average), crafts (3.32 times), hotels and restaurants (2.65 times), construction (2.26 times) and land transport and logistics (2.26 times). Conversely, organizations and associations, training services, real estate and architectural firms are the areas least threatened by bankruptcy.
The first eleven months of 2022 also saw the number of start-ups fall by around 1% compared with the same period in 2021, with a total of 45,069 new companies. The decline was particularly marked in the cantons of Uri (-15%) and Berne (-8%).
The strongest sectors in terms of new business registrations were real estate management and brokers (1.71 times higher than average), durable goods production (1.67 times) and retail trade (1.58 times). On the other hand, business start-ups in the holding and investment sector, health services and construction experienced a slump.
Last modification 11.01.2023
