Between October 2023 and October 2024, the number of unemployed increased by 24.5% in Switzerland, or 22,884 more people registered for a total of 116,447. These are the figures communicated this Tuesday by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The unemployment rate is 2.5%, up 0.5 points in one year.
Over the same period of time, the number of young unemployed people (aged 15 to 24) reached 11,621, an increase of 2,190 people (+23.2%). Still during the same period, the number of elderly unemployed (aged 50 to 64) increased by 5,664 people (+21.5%).
In one year, unemployment has increased in all regions. In French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, the unemployment rate increased from 3% to 3.5%. In German-speaking Switzerland from 1.7% to 2.1%.
In French-speaking Switzerland, the cantons of Geneva (4.4%), Jura (4.3%), Neuchâtel (4%) and Vaud (4%) have the highest unemployment rates. national scale. The canton of Neuchâtel experienced the strongest growth, going from 2.7% to 4% in one year, or 1,086 more unemployed people (mainly in the watchmaking sector). In the canton of Vaud, the increase was also significant with 2,876 more unemployed people in one year (+20.8%). In Valais also, unemployment has increased by 26.8% since 2023, or a good thousand more people registered.
In one year, the number of job seekers also increased in Switzerland by 19.2%, or 30,790 people for a total of 191,163.
