Shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland has increased further

The shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland has increased: The situation in the professions with the greatest shortage of skilled workers has once again become more acute compared to the previous year. Companies are thus finding it even more difficult to find suitable personnel for the affected professions in 2019 than they did a year ago. "Companies are fighting for the best professionals on the market and are increasingly striving to be a top employer," adds Nicole Burth, CEO of Adecco Group Switzerland.

The ranking of skilled labor shortages also shows that in many occupations there are considerably more people looking for a job than there are vacancies advertised. However, the situation for job seekers has eased somewhat in most occupations with an oversupply of skilled workers compared with the previous year: the majority of vacancies have increased, while the number of job seekers has decreased somewhat. "In the occupations at the bottom of the ranking with an oversupply of skilled workers, job seekers are likely to continue to find it difficult to find a job and negotiate employment conditions," comments Helen Buchs of the Job Market Monitor Switzerland.

Shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland: Acute in engineering, technical and fiduciary professions

In 2019, as in the previous year, engineering occupations are in first place in the skilled labor shortage ranking. This occupational group includes, for example, civil and electronics engineers. In 2019, engineering occupations, which were ranked 3rd in 2018, have moved up to 2nd place. This occupational group includes, for example, heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineers. Computer science occupations, which include analysts and programmers, for example, ranked 4th. "For companies, the so-called upskilling and reskilling of existing or newly recruited personnel plays an increasingly important role. On the one hand, expanding existing skills is important. For example, if a company supports an electrical engineer in continuing his education to become an electrical engineer while working. On the other hand, it is essential to continuously expand the qualifications of employees on the job through training and development," emphasizes Luca Semeraro, Head of Professional Recruitment at the Adecco Group Switzerland.

In 2019, as in the previous year, there is an acute shortage of skilled workers in the fiduciary professions, which include auditors, trustees and tax consultants. Accordingly, this occupational group is in third place, and finding suitable personnel for advertised positions in this area is currently a major challenge. "Smaller companies in particular are probably currently struggling to keep up with the conditions, career opportunities and working environment of the 'Big 4'. In addition, the work-life balance is becoming increasingly important. The battle for trained professionals has intensified in the fiduciary sector," says Semeraro.

For the professions of human medicine and pharmacy, the shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland has become greater compared to the previous year, because more positions are currently advertised than in 2018. These include pharmacists and pharmacy assistants, among others. "As has been evident for some time, the number of trained medical professionals cannot keep up with the needs of our expanding healthcare system. Demographic change is progressing faster than the education and training of the necessary specialists. However, there are opportunities to make working conditions even more attractive. This is where healthcare companies are particularly in demand," comments Corinne Scheiber, Head of Professional Solutions at Adecco Group Switzerland.

Strongest oversupply of skilled workers in cleaning and hygiene and personal care occupations

Occupations with low training requirements are particularly affected by an oversupply of skilled workers. Competition among job seekers for jobs in these occupations is likely to be correspondingly fierce. "The higher the level of training and specialization, the more in demand the corresponding skilled workers usually are. It is therefore worthwhile to continuously educate oneself," adds Helen Buchs of Job Market Monitor Switzerland.

In 2019, cleaning, hygiene and personal care occupations will have the greatest oversupply of skilled workers of all occupational groups and currently occupy last place in the skilled worker shortage ranking. This occupational group includes, for example, professions in textile care, housekeepers, hairdressers and beauticians. Although the ratio of advertised jobs to job seekers is at the same low level as in the previous year, the occupational group loses one place. This is because the situation has improved slightly in the other occupations at the bottom of the ranking, where the oversupply has decreased somewhat. Nevertheless, the same occupations remain at the bottom of the rankings.

The third-to-last place in the ranking is occupied by hospitality and housekeeping occupations, such as service or kitchen staff or housekeeping employees. This occupational group dropped one rank in 2019 compared to the previous year. In contrast, construction occupations made up one place in 2019 and are now ranked 29th. This occupational group includes, for example, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and electricians. Here, the situation of oversupply has eased compared with the previous year, as the number of job advertisements has risen and the number of job seekers has fallen somewhat at the same time.

Skilled labor surplus also in office occupations

The professions in retail and sales (e.g. sales assistants or cashiers) are also suffering from a severe oversupply of skilled workers (fifth to last place). "In sales, for example, we are seeing a shift to online business on the one hand, and on the other hand, activities previously performed by staff are increasingly being transferred to machines in stores, currently cashiering in particular. For sales staff, this means that they have to focus on activities that are less easily substitutable, such as advising and convincing customers," comments Helen Buchs from Job Market Monitor Switzerland.

Also among the occupations with the greatest surplus of skilled workers are commercial and administrative occupations such as clerical workers, administrative officers and organizational specialists. They are in second-to-last place in the ranking. "Companies are taking advantage of the increasing opportunities offered by automation, digitalization and outsourcing. Changes in work content and techniques affect many employees in this large occupational group. Further training and specialization, especially in digital skills, are urgently needed to keep pace with the advances of digitization," comments Helen Buchs of Job Market Monitor Switzerland.

Wanted in German-speaking Switzerland: Engineers and computer scientists

In German-speaking Switzerland, the engineering and IT professions occupy the top two places in the 2019 ranking of skilled labor shortages. Compared to the previous year, engineers have successfully defended their first place, while computer scientists have made up two places and the shortage of skilled workers has become even more acute for these professions. Fiduciary professions are in third place in the ranking, down one place on the previous year.

In last place in the ranking are the cleaning and hygiene and personal care occupations, in second to last place the hospitality and housekeeping occupations, and in third to last place the construction occupations. For the latter, the oversupply of skilled workers has eased somewhat compared with the previous year and they were able to make up one ranking place.

Source: Adecco Group