SWISS SKILLS SHORTAGE INDEX Q1 2018

Zurich, 23 May 2018 – The Swiss economy is reliant on specialists to maintain its current economic growth. However, many occupations face a lack of qualified staff. In the first edition of the Swiss Skills Shortage Index, which was developed in cooperation with the Swiss Job Market Monitor of the University of Zurich, The Adecco Group Switzerland identifies which professions experienced the most acute skills shortages during the first quarter of 2018. The complete study on this topic will be published in November 2018.

Digitisation is advancing at great speed and profoundly changing the job profile of certain occupations. Demographic development is also affecting our job markets, with more people currently entering retirement than are reaching the age of employment. Companies find themselves unable to fill vacancies. Studies predict that in 2030, Switzerland will lack around half a million workers.

“For this reason, it is of central importance for the Swiss economy to recognise early on which professions are particularly affected by the skills shortage, because this is the only way that the business and political world can undertake appropriate measures. This is why we are so pleased about our collaboration with the University of Zurich to create an index that displays the trends and developments of the specialist supply and demand,” explained Nicole Burth, CEO of The Adecco Group Switzerland.

Across Switzerland, fiduciary sector experiencing the most acute lack of specialists

In the first quarter of 2018, the highest number of vacant positions available per unemployed person was in the Swiss-wide fiduciary sector (chartered accountants, auditors, fiduciaries, tax consultants). Second place in the skills shortage rankings is held by technical occupations (electrical, mechanical, heating, textile and telecommunications technicians, and structural and civil engineering technicians), followed by engineering professions (architects, and mechanical, IT, electrical and forestry engineers, etc.). Medical and pharmaceutical professions (doctors, pharmacists, medical-practice assistants) are in fourth place, while IT jobs are fifth. The tail end of the Swiss-wide rankings consists of occupations in textile manufacturing, printing and warehousing. The majority of these jobs are also affected by the government’s job registration requirement.