Explosion of cross-border workers in French-speaking Switzerland, not beyond Sarine

Significant differences between French-speaking and German-speaking cantons in terms of the number of cross-border workers. According to RTS figures, Basel-City and Geneva each had 26,000 25 years ago, compared to 35,000 and 112,000 respectively today. Same development in less urban cantons: in Thurgau, cross-border workers increased from 2,000 to 6,000, and in Jura, from 2,000 to 12,000. In the canton of Vaud, their number has increased fivefold, and Neuchâtel now has more than the canton of Zurich.

The various authorities questioned by French-speaking radio and television are struggling to find explanations. Mentioned: a possible cultural difference (the German-speaking people would be more reluctant to hire German personnel), more apprentices beyond Sarine (which would ensure a sufficient workforce for technical professions), or even a labor market German which would encourage less exodus. In Ticino, the number of cross-border workers increased from 80,000 in 2023 to 79,000. Since January, a tax agreement has required cross-border workers to pay taxes in Switzerland and also in Italy, which could explain the decrease.