Unemployment Growing in Switzerland

By April 30, 2020, there were 153,413 persons registered as unemployed at Switzerland's regional labour mediation offices.

The new workers have suffered the strongest blow. Unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 increased by 18.1% compared to March 2020 and 61.3% compared to April 2019. By the end of April 2020, there were 17,191 people in this group without jobs, and albinfo.ch.

Older workers have been hit less by the deadlock caused by Coddy-19. Among those between 50 and 64 years of age, unemployment rose 9.5% compared to March 2020 and 31.7% compared to April 2019. By the end of April 2020, there were 40,236 people in this job - free age group.

The most hit sector was that of hotels and restaurants. Unemployment rose by 9.9%, with 31% compared to March 2020 and up to 91% compared to April 2019. Construction was also hit hard. Construction unemployment rose to 6.6%, increasing 5% last month and 62% in April 2019. These two industries accounted for 35.876 unemployed April, about 23% of total, albinfo.ch.

These unemployment levels calculated by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) do not include all people looking for work.

These include only those registered in Switzerland's regional labour mediation offices, which have the right to receiving unemployment wages, which last for up to two years.

An alternative measure, used by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which includes all job seekers, ILO's unemployment definition is higher. In 2019, the SECO scale was 2.5%, while the ILO scale was 4.5%.

By April 30, 2020, there were 231,196 job seekers in Switzerland, 17.299 more than a month ago, and 47,647 rather than at the same time last year, broadcast albinfo.ch. This figure provides a 5.0% unemployment rate, a higher estimate of ILO levels.