Switzerland’s labour market is showing signs of decline; moving is becoming increasingly more expensive for Swiss tenants; plus other news in our Wednesday roundup.
Switzerland’s labour market is cooling down
According to a survey published on Tuesday by the recruitment agency Manpower, the country’s employment outlook “shows a significant decline, reaching the lowest level recorded in Switzerland since 2021.”
Among the reasons cited for this downward trend are economic uncertainty, weak global demand, and increasing automation.
“Also, companies are now relying more heavily on flexible work models such as temporary employment, which seems to be becoming a permanent component of modern HR strategies,” the Manpower study reported.
Moving is becoming increasingly more expensive for tenants
In the past 20 years, rents charged to new tenants have jumped by 31 percent, while those of longstanding ones remain stable.
This is the finding of a new “Swiss Property Benchmark’ analysis carried out by IAZI/CIFI real estate platform.
It shows that the gap between rents for new tenants and those for long-term residents continues to widen in Switzerland.
READ MORE: How new renters are paying the price of the housing shortage
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The number of foreign students at Swiss universities has been growing
Swiss institutions of higher learning have been attracting students from abroad for many years.
The steep increase in numbers can be seen in a study published on Tuesday by the Federal Statistical Office.
It shows that while the increase at the Bachelor level has been relatively small over the past two decades – 16.4 percent – the number has been rising steadily for advanced degrees: a 24.4-percent jump for Masters and 57.2 percent for Doctorates.
READ MORE: Why a top Swiss university wants to limit number of foreign students
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Zurich airport is no longer among the world’s best
Usually ranked among the top airports globally in the annual ‘World Airport Awards’ list, Zurich has slipped significantly – from the 10th place in 2025 to the 19th this year.
The ranking is based on global customer satisfaction score, gathered from millions of questionnaires completed by travellers from over 100 nations between August 2025 and February 2026.
All stages of the journey are evaluated – from check-in and security checks to shopping and boarding procedure.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
