2025

Women around the table with technological pictograms

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.
A miniature shopping cart filled with coins

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.
umfrage_2025

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.
A chart with golden blocks and an upward curve

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).
A hand holding a light bulb with various branches

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).
A person is working on a cylinder

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.
Three piles of stacked papers

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.
A bar chart with an IMPORT TAXES sign and the US flag

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.
A person in front of a machine holding a measuring device

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.
A person in front of a laptop with a pictogram labelled SERVICE

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).
A pallet with packages and an aircraft on a runway

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).
People walking through a large hall with greenery in the background

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.
The American flag, the globe and cogs

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.
In front of the Matterhorn, a sign displays the text “AMERICA TAXES 39% SWITZERLAND” with the US and Swiss flags.

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.
A red car and a rising and falling curve

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.
Shadows of people walking with backpacks and briefcases

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).
Cargo with the Swiss and German flags in the foreground

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.
A man with his back to a pile of leaves higher than him

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.
The Swiss flag in front of illuminated skyscrapers

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.
Linked paper figures with coins in the background

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).
Three children sit on a bench with their backs to an Alpine landscape

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.
A watch, figures, and a person typing on a computer keyboard

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.
A hall with yellow lines on the floor and machines on the sides

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.
A smiling man holds a golden rising arrow in his hand

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.
A laboratory technician observes preparations under the microscope

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.

Last modification 11.02.2025

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