KOF Employment Indicator Falls in Q4

03:32 AM EST, 11/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Swiss employment conditions in the fourth quarter of 2026 weakened slightly, the KOF Swiss Economic Institute said Monday, citing firms' assessment of their current staffing levels. The KOF employment indicator declined to 2 points from the revised 2.3 points in the prior quarter, slightly higher than its long-term average of 1.7 points. Meanwhile, the net balance of employment expectations for the next three months stood at 3.2 points, "virtually unchanged" from 3.3 points last quarter, with more companies intending to create additional jobs than those planning layoffs. On a sectoral level, the employment situation among wholesale and manufacturing companies improved even though both segments remained in negative territory. Most construction companies still expect job growth, while the majority of hospitality and retail firms expect downsizing. The other services sector continued to contribute positively to the overall indicator, although it was at its lowest since early 2021.