The Swiss labor market with a view beyond the country's borders
The Labor Market Compass of the online research institute Marketagent Schweiz AG shows what Swiss people value in their professional lives, how, where and when they would like to work and how they perceive the mood on the labor market. A look beyond Switzerland's borders also sheds light on how employees from the two neighboring countries of Germany and Austria would like to shape their working environment.
The fact that the labor market is changing and employers are required to come up with new working models to meet the increased demands of the workforce is hardly news anymore. But where exactly to start? Marketagent's Labor Market Compass aims to provide answers to this question. Since the beginning of the year, the digital market and opinion research institute has been surveying employees from Switzerland on the current mood on the labor market, not only taking a close look at domestic employees, but also highlighting preferences from the entire D-A-CH region. A total of 3,737 employees from the first half of 2024 provide insight into where their priorities lie in their professional lives and what role the much-cited buzzwords "work-life balance", "home office" or the "4-day week" actually play in their desired scenario.
The formula for the dream job
A good salary, flexible working hours far from full-time, extensive home office... This is roughly what the perfect job could sound like. The latest data suggests that in reality, employees' priorities are more diverse than these platitudes. Does fair pay play a key role in the job? Yes - in Switzerland and Austria it is even significantly higher than in Germany (Switzerland: 67% vs. Austria: 65% vs. Germany: 59%). A not insignificant proportion would also be happy with a flexible working time model, with the Swiss in particular standing out here with 47% (compared to 42% in Germany and 39% in Austria). But: "A fulfilling working day is multi-faceted. In addition to an attractive salary, a good working atmosphere, flexible working hours, job security and appreciation turn out to be key drivers in the job search and leave supposedly decisive framework conditions such as the possibility of working from home or the much-discussed 4-day week far behind at the end of the day," emphasizes Thomas Schwabl, founder of Marketagent Schweiz AG. "In terms of employee retention and satisfaction, employers are therefore called upon to master the important balancing act between attractive cornerstones and these essential feel-good aspects."
|
Job search priorities* |
D |
AT |
CH |
|
|
Good salary / fair pay |
58,6% |
65,2% |
67,3% |
|
|
Good working atmosphere |
52,4% |
55,9% |
62,5% |
|
|
Job security |
44,6% |
38,8% |
35,3% |
|
|
Flexible working hours |
41,9% |
39,1% |
47,3% |
|
|
Appreciation |
40,7% |
40,6% |
37,1% |
|
|
Full-time salary with fewer hours |
28,8% |
23,7% |
20,7% |
|
|
Possibility to work from home |
27,8% |
22,9% |
28,0% |
|
|
Possibility of a 4-day week |
25,1% |
28,1% |
24,4% |
|
|
No all-in contract |
15,0% |
19,1% |
11,2% |
|
|
Flat hierarchies |
14,7% |
10,0% |
13,4% |
|
*Top 10 I D: n = 326, AT: n = 2,773, CH: n = 638 II Multiple answers possible
Shift already happened
The labor market has become noticeably more dynamic in recent years. The public debate about a reduction in working hours has been fueled time and again, and not without good reason. After all, the Swiss would like to work an average of 34.5 hours. "Goodbye to the 40-hour week" is not only being said in Switzerland, however, but also in the two neighboring countries. While Austrians would prefer a workload of 33.5 hours, the average for Germans is 31.7 hours, the lowest level in the three-country comparison. If their job allowed it, they would work around 41% of these hours from home. The preferred proportion of remote work is only higher in Switzerland with 44% (vs. 37% in Austria).
Furthermore, work-life balance is increasingly becoming a key issue in today's fast-paced working world. When faced with a direct choice, the majority of Swiss respondents clearly prefer a work-life balance (78%) to a career (22%). Work-life balance is therefore not just a fashionable buzzword, but a fundamental aspect of modern working culture. It is therefore important for employers to enable such a balance without jeopardizing operational goals.
High satisfaction does not prevent job changes
A look at the satisfaction levels in the current job allows employers to breathe a sigh of relief. After all, 78% of Swiss employees state that they are very or fairly satisfied in their job. In Austria and Germany, the figure is even slightly higher at 83% and 79% respectively. However, the fact that employers cannot rest on their laurels and that competition for the most talented people remains high is shown by the high willingness of employees to change jobs. In Switzerland, no less than 41% feel the desire for a career change, even though they perceive their chances on the labor market far less positively (45%) than Germans (67%) and Austrians (64%). However, one reason for this is probably the considerable jump in salary that they expect with a new job, which they put at 31% (compared to 28% in Austria and 25% in Germany). The war for talent is therefore far from over and it is still important to set the right incentives, emphasizes the Labour Market Compass.
Source: Marketagent Switzerland
