Many people know the phrases ‘Go to college, you will earn a lot later’ or ‘If you go to college, you will definitely find a job’. But is that actually true? A new study from the Federal Statistical Office provides clarity.
Studying is popular. The number of students has increased every year since 1995. In 2023, there was a slight decline for the first time in more than 25 years. The reason for this is the declining birth rate. At the beginning of the new millennium, the number of births in Switzerland fell dramatically. These cohorts in particular are now at the age where they can start studying.
In Switzerland, approximately one third of the school year in upper secondary education obtains a high school diploma or a specialist diploma. 90 percent of all graduates go on to study.
Many people find themselves in a difficult socio-economic situation during their studies. Students often need to be supported by their family members, although around two-thirds of students work part-time, according to the research. Only a minority benefits from scholarships. Nine percent of students even have debts and 13 percent are experiencing major financial problems. Many people quit their studies for these reasons.
On average, people who have obtained a high school diploma earn about 4,000 francs per year, while those with a specialized baccalaureate earn 7,300 francs. Income remains quite low until three years after obtaining a technical or secondary diploma. Mostly because of studies.
After the fourth year after obtaining the baccalaureate, income varies considerably. About 29 percent of people with a high school diploma decide to pursue further education, compared to just five percent of people with a specialized baccalaureate degree. Nearly 50 percent of people with a specialized baccalaureate enter the labor market after obtaining their bachelor’s degree, earning an average median income of 31,400 francs per year.
People with a high school diploma often only fully enter the labor market in the seventh year after graduation. You will then have an average annual median income of just over 30,000 francs.
Nine years after graduating from high school, an average income of 64,800 francs can be achieved; for people with a specialized baccalaureate this is 67,300 francs.
After nine years, those with a tertiary degree who are no longer studying earn an average of R74,600 per year after obtaining their secondary school diploma and R71,900 after completing their specialist baccalaureate. Logically, you earn considerably more than people who are still studying after nine years.
The clearest wage difference becomes apparent five years after earning a baccalaureate degree. The type of university someone chooses plays an important role. People who started studying at a teacher training college (PH) earn the most nine years after starting their studies and obtaining their baccalaureate degree. On average, they have an average annual salary of about 80,000 francs.
Those who graduated from a university or technical college after high school earn the least after nine years (63,500 francs and 63,300 francs respectively).
It's not just your college choice that determines your future income; your focus on high school or a specialized baccalaureate degree can also impact your future.
First, people with a specialized baccalaureate in the field of 'pedagogy' complete tertiary education and, as a result, reach the highest income both five and nine years later. If you choose the main subject 'Artistic Design and Music', things don't look so rosy financially. Both five and nine years later, people who chose this study had the lowest income.
About 80 percent of people with a high school diploma still live with their parents five years after graduating from high school, and after nine years this is still 28 percent. For people with a specialized baccalaureate, the results look very different. After 5 years, only 40 percent still live at home and after 9 years that is only 10 percent.
Vocational training is still the most popular educational path in Switzerland. Two-thirds start an internship after school. Which professional field is chosen has a strong influence on income, because there are large differences.
People who enter the field of 'computer science and communication technology' receive the best salaries after their internship. After a year and a half after training, people earn on average more than 5,000 francs per month and after five and a half years that is more than 6,000 francs, which corresponds to an annual salary of more than 76,000 francs.
The worst earners are people educated in the humanities, the arts and the social sciences. Even after five and a half years, these people earn less than 5,000 francs per month, which corresponds to an annual income of less than 58,000 francs. This field includes training for crafts and those in the field of audiovisual techniques.
On average, people with a completed Federal Certificate of Competency (EFZ) earn about R5,270 per month if they work full-time for five years after completion. This corresponds to an annual income of 63,240 francs. People who have completed a vocational baccalaureate earn an average of 5,730 francs per month after five years, or 68,760 francs per year. That's 10 percent more. People with a federal vocational certificate (EBA) have the lowest income, with an annual income of 54,600 francs five years after graduation.
There are also large differences in wages between language regions. Italian-speaking people with vocational training earn considerably less than in the other two Swiss language areas. People from German-speaking Switzerland have the highest wages.
The following conclusion can be drawn from the study by the Federal Statistical Office: The figures from the study clearly show that the choice of study has an enormous influence on the question of whether studying is worth it or not. For example, people in the field of 'computer science and communications technology' without a tertiary degree can earn significantly more than those with a tertiary degree who have chosen another field.
In short, people with a specialized baccalaureate who have chosen 'pedagogy' as their major earn the most after five and nine years of all people with a baccalaureate. In general, people with a high school diploma earn money faster than those with a high school diploma because wages for people with a high school diploma only increase after 7 to 9 years. In terms of income, the field of 'artistic design and music' is not worth it.
Studying is expensive. Not everyone can afford to study or wants to take on the study years when they can barely earn an income. The research also shows that studying in Switzerland is not a 'must' to find a decent wage or a job. On the contrary: the field of work is crucial.
Source: Blick
I am Ross William, a passionate and experienced news writer with more than four years of experience in the writing industry. I have been working as an author for 24 Instant News Reporters covering the Trending section. With a keen eye for detail, I am able to find stories that capture people’s interest and help them stay informed.
