Free movement for EU/EFTA citizens, unemployment of 4.9% (EU: 6.0%) and a legal maximum of 45–50 working hours a week. There is no national minimum wage, but five cantons have one – in Geneva CHF 24.59 an hour in 2026. Find out where to look for a job, how to apply and which permit and registration steps you need.
Switzerland has 9.1 million people and an employment rate well above the EU average: 82.4% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%).
Unemployment has gone up a little – from 4.1% in 2022 to 4.9% in 2025 – but it is still below the EU average of 6.0%. Youth unemployment (15–24) is 8.8%, well below the EU rate of 15.2%.
Switzerland is not in the EU or the EEA, but a free movement agreement gives EU/EFTA citizens the right to live and work here. You still need a residence permit from the canton (or, for short jobs, a notification by your employer). The working language depends on the region: German (spoken by more than 60% of the population), French or Italian.
Croatian citizens: no quotas apply in 2026, and full free movement starts on 1 January 2027.
Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.
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