Immigration to Switzerland: the Germans are back

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Switzerland is experiencing a record year in terms of immigration. Mainly driven by the creation of numerous new jobs. Between January and October 2023, 81,345 foreigners have already emigrated. According to CH Media newspapers, this number is expected to rise to 100,000 by the end of the year. Foreigners with a residence or settlement permit are taken into account; asylum seekers, temporarily admitted persons and Ukrainians with an S status do not count.

This prediction significantly exceeds the average of 64,000 people per year over the past twenty years. Particularly striking: the increase in German immigrants. In 2019, a year before the corona pandemic, a net of 5,889 Germans immigrated. Three years later, in 2022, there were almost twice as many: 11,390 people. The increase may be due to the waning effect of the 2014 mass immigration initiative, the paper continues.

Most come for work

Immigration remains concentrated in the three major neighboring countries: Germany, Italy and France. About a third of net immigration comes from these countries. The increase in German immigration is especially evident in the cantons of Zurich, Aargau and Basel. Most immigrants come to Switzerland because of job offers. This shows that the IT industry and the catering industry in particular have a great need for foreign workers.

The leader is the IT industry. The shortage of skilled workers in the sector is severe, with IT specialists in second place in the 2023 Skills Shortage Index. In the hospitality industry, which suffered large losses during the pandemic, the number of employees is back above pre-pandemic levels crisis increased.

The shortage of skilled workers will remain high

According to CH Media, there has also been significant growth in the healthcare and social sectors, with more than 50,000 additional jobs since the beginning of 2021. The shortage of skilled workers is increasingly forcing hospitals to look for staff abroad. Despite the increase in immigration, labor shortages are expected to remain high, especially in the healthcare professions.

Switzerland benefits from high wages. This makes them attractive to foreign workers. More than 300,000 new jobs have been created since the beginning of 2021. However, job growth is expected to normalize next year. Nevertheless, labor shortages will remain high due to the impending retirement of baby boomers. Immigration is unlikely to decline so quickly. (oco)

Source:Blick