Switzerland Logs Faster Nonfarm Payrolls Growth in Second Quarter; Employment Outlook Still Bright

05:41 AM EDT, 08/27/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Switzerland's nonfarm payrolls growth accelerated in the second quarter, supported by an increase in employment in both the services and the industry and construction sectors. Total employment in the country, excluding agriculture, rose 2% year over year in the second quarter, compared with the revised 1.5% gain in the prior three-month period, the Federal Statistical Office said in its latest employment barometer published Thursday. On a quarterly basis, the seasonally adjusted figure rose 0.5%. Swiss enterprises recorded 5.7 million jobs in the quarter, up by 111,800 jobs annually. Employment in the industry and construction sector grew year over year 1.2% to 1.1 million jobs, while the services sector saw a 2.2% increase to 4.6 million jobs. "Enterprises reported 2.7% more job vacancies than a year earlier and difficulties recruiting skilled workers have increased compared with the previous quarter. The employment outlook remains positive," according to the statistics office. A total of 98,700 vacancies were recorded in the quarter. The industry and construction sector saw a 21.8% annual jump in the number of vacancies, while that in the services sector fell 2.4%. Meanwhile, the employment outlook indicator rose 0.6% in the second quarter, compared with the previous three months. The share of enterprises that increased the number of jobs in the short-term edged up to 11.3% from 11%, while companies planning to reduce their workforce declined to 3.9% from 4.8%.