“We need immigration to combat the labor shortage”

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The Swiss population and economy are at odds: some oppose immigration, while others want more.

In a recent poll by Tamedia and “20 Minuten”, two-thirds of those questioned favor tighter immigration restrictions. Opposition to immigration is most evident among SVP voters: 93 percent of them favor stricter restrictions. Among SP and Green voters, 41 and 37 percent, respectively, favor the new restrictions.

The economy needs immigration

Values ​​are uplifting and drawing attention to economically liberal voters: 73 percent of FDP sympathizers favor stricter immigration restrictions. 51 percent for Green Liberals. The liberal skepticism about immigration is astonishing, after all, Swiss companies are short of skilled workers and are making up for it with immigrants.

Rudolf Minsch, 56, chief economist at the economic umbrella organization Economiesuisse, says it won’t work in the future without these foreign workers. “In the next few years, as many as 30,000 more people will retire than will enter the labor market each year,” he calculates. “Migration is a valve to close the labor shortage.”

According to the State Undersecretariat for Migration (SEM), 81,000 people were added to the permanent resident population in Switzerland last year, 20,000 more than the previous year.

Higher rates instead of immigration

In addition to the workers, more refugees and asylum seekers came to Switzerland. Last year, 24,500 asylum applications were filed, up 64 percent from the previous year. 66,000 Ukrainians with S protection status also live in Switzerland.

“All these people will be gathered together,” Swissmem director Stefan Brupbacher (55) fears. He believes the population sees migration differently than this survey suggests. He cites a survey by industry association Interpharma in March that concluded that 59 percent of the population saw substantial advantages in bilateral agreements with the EU. “This is a clear commitment to the free movement of people.”

However, Brupbacher says skepticism about immigration among the population should be taken seriously. And he blames the Swiss. “If we make more use of the indigenous workforce, there will be less immigration.” Concretely: higher wages and longer working hours. Innovation and digitization can also help by reducing the need for labor.

Source :Blick