The only regional employment center (RAV) in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden is located in the middle of the main city, just a stone’s throw from the train station. Manager Nino Meli (55) is pleased that AHV and IV are located in the same building: “Otherwise, some of our customers will only dare to go to the RAV in the dark.”
Being unemployed is still associated with shame in Switzerland – more so in the conservative Appenzellerland than anywhere else. However, in recent months, many have been relieved of this burden. RAV boss Meli counted more than 50 unemployed in the canton a year ago, but now there are only 31: “Less than ever before – and everyone was sitting in this office.”
Appenzell Innerrhoden reported an unemployment rate of 0.4 percent at the end of November 2022 – low: the rate of job seekers in Switzerland was 2.0 percent. While this is far more than in the canton of 16,000, it is excellent in comparison: Since 2003, the key figure has never been lower in the same period of the year.
Behind the numbers there are destinies
The absolute numbers are even more impressive: On average, there were 132,000 unemployed in Switzerland at the end of November over the past two decades. In 2022 there were only 91,327 people – and this is despite the sharp increase in the number of residents. In fact, the number of long-term unemployed people decreased by half within twelve months.
According to the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (Seco), when asked, it’s not because of the factors that spoil the picture. So I didn’t have many implications that could explain and put into perspective the “extraordinarily low unemployment”.
Thousands of individual destinies are behind the satisfying numbers. RAV consultant Meli knows some of them well. “You develop a close relationship with many customers,” he says. “For example, I suffer when someone makes an effort but has to accept rejection after rejection.”
In the past few months, Meli has had many wonderful experiences too. A woman arrived that morning, a year and a half later, who had finally found a new job. “He’s a highly qualified IT professional, but in a highly specific field,” says Meli. There were repeated promising job interviews, but in the end it was only second or third choice. “Now it finally worked,” she says, and she smiles. She brought him a beaver to thank her for her support. “Of course one would prefer to celebrate such moments with a bottle of champagne.”
Such a decline has “never occurred”
In Appenzell Innerrhoden currently 1.5 employees is enough to take care of all the unemployed in the canton. There were two full-time positions a few months ago.
What sounds like a little is actually a lot. For example, in Winterthur ZH, where one of the largest employment centers in the canton of Zurich is located in the Sulzer district, RAV employees have significantly fewer resources. “Ideally, 130 files are handled by each HR consultant,” says facilities manager Jürgen Fackelmayer (61).
The number of customers has also fallen sharply in Winterthur lately. While there were 5,500 job seekers registered there in January 2021, there are currently 2,900. Fackelmayer: “In my twelve years as director of RAV in the canton of Zurich, I have never experienced such a decline.”
The expert attributes much of this decline to catch-up effects, for example in the aftermath of the Corona crisis in the catering or events industry. However, other factors must also play a role, as the number of unemployed is also historically very low. “Many new positions have been created in the past few months and by no means all of them can be filled.”
Mental problems in men
According to Fackelmayer, especially skilled workers are in demand more than ever before: “For example, if a plumber contacts us, we can put them back very quickly because we know which companies are desperately looking for good people.” In some cases, even for 55+ age group members who have had to search for longer periods in recent years, finding a new job can be much faster today.
Health considerations often play a role for job seekers who remain dependent on RAV for a long time despite good economics, Fackelmayer says: “Young people, especially those who can’t find jobs, often struggle with psychological problems.”
With an unemployment rate of 1.6 percent, Zurich is also below the Swiss average. The largest canton in the country can only dream of conditions in Appenzell. RAV manager Meli believes it’s not just about the small district, but also about the attitude in the half-canton: “Appenzeller hires Appenzeller whenever possible – not foreigners.”
Once reputation is ruined…
However, Meli clearly emphasizes that foreigners living in Appenzell are not foreigners. “In this context, as a resident of St. Gallen, I can say that the integration of foreigners works better in Appenzell than in many other cantons.”
But neo-Appenzeller acknowledges that the canton’s small size also has its downsides: “If someone has a bad reputation here, it’s hard to get rid of it.” Then it is almost impossible for these people to find a job in the canton.