Shortage of Skilled Employees and Work Visas for Foreigners Data

Shortage of Skilled Employees

This year the shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland has became even more visible, as the survey on skilled workers shortage index shows, compiled by Adecco Switzerland in co-operation with the University of Zurich. This index measures the number of vacancies against the occupations in given branches, displaying where it is most difficult to find skilled employees. This year’s index showed that the shortage of skilled employees is especially observed in German-speaking cantons and in the engineering sector.

Industries Lacking Most of Skilled Workers

The shortage of skilled employees is especially observed in electronic, civil engineering sector and among technical professions like heating, ventilation, air-conditioning engineers – those moved up in the ranking to the second place. The top three is rounded by fiduciary jobs, whereas on the fourth spot there is IT sector. The shortage of skilled workers is also high in medical, pharmaceutical branches and there it went up a lot.

Oversupply of Employees

Some industries struggle to find employees, whereas others have oversupply of workers. For instance cleaning, hygiene, body care branches – there is too much of hairdressers, caretakers or beauticians on the market and the competition among such jobs is the biggest. Also in hospitality sector, commerce, administration and trade is it harder to find an employer than to find an employee. Meanwhile it has change in construction sector, where number of job-seekers has fallen down and number of advertisements for employees has risen at the same time.

Reasons of Shortage Among Skilled Employees

Why some sectors are missing employees? Adecco names various factors, like a low unemployment rate combined with a strong economy, especially in the East of Switzerland. Whereas in peripheral towns companies struggle to find employees, as they choose other more attractive regions – Geneva or Zurich (also the most popular destinations for cross-border workers).

Non-EU Citizens Work Visas

The solution of many enterprises to the shortage of employees is finding foreign workers – those either move in to Switzerland to work or commute from abroad every day and thus become cross-border workers. In the first instance employees need work visas to be able to have legal job in Switzerland. Next year Switzerland will issue 8,500 work visas to non-EU citizens, which is the same number of permits like in 2019. Additionally 3,500 workers will be welcomed as part of no-deal Brexit. Swiss companies can hire up to 4,500 employees coming from third countries for at least one year under B-permits issuance. Whereas 4,000 L-permits for those seeking short-term contracts will be issued (contracts between three and twelve months). If the Great Britain leaves the European Union, Switzerland will issue additionally 2,100 B-permits and 1,400 L-permits for British employees.

The Issue Under Discussion

The issue of number of working visas for foreigners from non-EU countries has long remained the discussion point in Switzerland.  After the referendum from 2014 number of permits was cut down to 6,500, but this has raised protest from three cantons, where there are a lot of foreign companies. As a result the number of permits was risen to 8,500 per year.