Switzerland Faces Shortages in 41 Occupations, Says 2023 EURES Report

According to the 2023 EURES report on shortages and surpluses, Switzerland is grappling with shortages in 41 occupations. The healthcare sector is among the most affected, followed by engineering, IT, education, and justice.

Additionally, the report highlights that Switzerland is one of the EU countries with the highest reliance on foreign-trained doctors and nurses. "Among the EURES countries, Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland show the highest dependency on foreign-trained doctors, and Ireland, Switzerland, and Austria show the highest dependency on foreign-trained nurses," stated the European Labour Authority.

This reliance means that foreign professionals in these or other shortage occupations are more likely to secure employment and work visas in Switzerland. According to the latest EURES report, some professions facing labor shortages in Switzerland include:

- Nursing professionals

- Generalist/Specialist medical practitioners

- Dentists

- Physiotherapists

- Health professionals not elsewhere classified

- Applications programmers

- Software developers

- System analysts

- Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified

- Environmental engineers

- Civil engineers

- Lawyers

- Special needs teachers

- Other language teachers

- Accountants

Nursing Professionals in High Demand

In the first quarter of 2024, nursing professionals emerged as the most sought-after job in Switzerland, with nearly 6,400 vacancies, according to the latest Jobradar of x28 AG, which tracks the Swiss labor market. Other highly demanded jobs during this period included electricians (6,337 vacancies), sales consultants (4,056), carpenters (3,377), project managers (3,256), and software developers (3,187). Consequently, the sectors with the highest number of job advertisements were healthcare, construction, retail, gastronomy, and IT.

Potential for 400,000 Vacancies by 2030

A study by the University of St. Gallen and Advance in September 2023 revealed a severe skills shortage in Switzerland, which could worsen as Baby Boomers retire. Calculations from the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) suggest that even with a moderate influx of 50,000 skilled professionals annually, up to 400,000 positions could remain unfilled by 2030. This situation may translate into more employment opportunities for foreign workers. Additionally, the Federal Statistical Office reported a surge in the number of foreign workers in Switzerland, with foreigners representing almost 34 percent of the workforce in 2023, the highest since 1991.

Visa Requirements for Working in Switzerland

Non-EU/EFTA citizens must obtain a visa to work in Switzerland. To apply for a Swiss work visa, individuals must be skilled and qualified workers with a university degree, years of experience, and specific expertise. They must secure a job offer in advance, and the employer must confirm that no EU/EFTA citizen is available for the position.

In 2023, Switzerland announced plans to ease work permit procedures for qualified workers from third countries, making it easier for this category of workers to obtain a work permit if there’s a need and it aligns with Switzerland’s economic interests.

By fLEXI tEAM