KOF: Swiss Businesses Expect 'Respectable' Wage Increase in 2027

05:06 AM EDT, 08/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Swiss companies anticipate the forthcoming round of wage negotiations to deliver a "respectable" increase in wages in real terms by historical standards, according to a survey by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute published Monday. In July 2026, private-sector businesses in Switzerland expect to see an average nominal wage growth of 1.2% in 2027, 1.3% lower year over year. Should the KOF's latest forecast of a 0.5% rise in inflation over the next 12 months materialize, businesses anticipate the nominal 1.2% wage growth to result in a real increase of 0.7%. The construction industry is projected to see the highest wage growth, both in nominal and real terms, compared with a year ago, amid "significant" variations in wage growth expectations between sectors.