Swiss Job, Transportation Sectors Impacted by Pandemic

New Job Offers Down

                Due to the pandemic and lockdown new job offers in Switzerland dropped by more than a quarter. In months from April to June there were less by 27% new job postings, as data from Adecco Switzerland shows (it checked offerings for all sectors, regions, types of jobs and employees, including cross-border workers). According to a researcher working on a report, Anna von Ow from the University of Zurich, decrease of job offerings is worse than during previous crises, also the one in 2008-2009. The impact back then was less sudden. This time almost overnight economic, social and cultural areas of life were shut down. Now, when pandemic is less spread and restrictions are being eased, number of new job offers has stabilized a bit. The prognosis is optimistic.

All Sectors Impacted

                All sectors of job market were impacted, but the most were hit hotel, personal service and restaurants sectors, which saw a decline of 39% in new job offers. The second most influenced by Covid-19 sectors with 35% less offers were business, sales, office administration, management.   The teleworking option was not helpful in these. A drop of 18% was observed in job postings for positions in natural sciences, construction, and maintenance sectors – the east affected by the pandemic. When it comes to regions, the area around Lake Geneva, cantons of Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura and Bern were the most impacted ones, with eastern Switzerland in quite better situation.

Prognosis of the Unemployment Rate

                The estimations shows that the unemployment rate in 2020 will rise to 3.8%, one percentage point higher than in 2019. Next year, further rise to 4.1% is predicted. It means many cross-border workers can lose their jobs, as well as residents workers. Unemployment offices are getting ready for a new wave of jobless people, hiring new counsellors. Additionally, the general economic situation is seen to be worse, with drop by 5% this year, according to KOF. The strong exchange rate of Swiss franc is not helpful neither.

Collapse in Public Transportation

                During the peak of Covid-19 pandemic passenger volume using train public transportation shrank by 90%. Since then it has gradually increased, now standing at 55% of typical capacity in regional trains and 45% in intercity trains. Post Bus reported 80-90% drop during March and April in passengers, now its yellow busses are filled at half capacity.

Losses for Transportation Company

                For the whole year Alliance SwissPass, the national public transport organization, expects a drop in yearly national train passes by 6% and 1% drop in half-price annual passes. This will translate to financial loss of CHF119 million just in the sector of passes, not mentioning other losses due to less passengers. Adding decrease in local passes and number of sold individual train and bus tickets, SwissPass foresees loss of CHF1.5-1.8 billion for this year.