Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Switzerland
Switzerland: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 4.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Switzerland, 1975–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Switzerland stood at 4.8%.
That represents a change of up 11.5% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Switzerland peaked at 5.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1978.
Switzerland ranks 106th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.3% | — |
| 1976 | 0.7% | +133.3% |
| 1977 | 0.4% | -42.9% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.2% | — |
| 1982 | 0.4% | +100.0% |
| 1983 | 0.9% | +125.0% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | +22.2% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | -68.4% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 2.1% | — |
| 1991 | 1.8% | -12.0% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | +28.9% |
| 1993 | 3.6% | +51.5% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | -13.6% |
| 1996 | 3.7% | +19.1% |
| 1997 | 4.1% | +12.0% |
| 1998 | 3.6% | -13.5% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | -14.4% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -12.9% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | +17.4% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | +40.8% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -10.0% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | -8.9% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 4.1% | +22.7% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | +17.0% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 4.5% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -17.8% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | +7.4% |
| 2025 | 4.8% | +11.5% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 4.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 98% of the median. (77 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 4.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 87% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +133.3% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| 1983 | +125.0% | 0.4% | 0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.1% | 1.8% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.5% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.0% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Switzerland?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Switzerland was 4.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1978.
- How does Switzerland rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Switzerland ranks 106th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.