| Actual | Previous | |
| Adjusted | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Not Adjusted | 3.0% | 3.0% |
Highlights
Switzerland's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.1 percent in September, up from 3.0 percent a year earlier. The unadjusted rate also held steady at 3.0 percent, compared with 2.8 percent in September 2025.
The number of registered unemployed fell by 1,064, or 0.8 percent, on the month to 140,480, but was 7,247, or 5.4 percent, higher than a year earlier. Long-term unemployment was little changed on the month at 23,568, but up 25.4 percent on the year.
Registered job seekers totaled 227,592, up 344, or 0.2 percent, from August and 13,842, or 6.5 percent, from a year earlier. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the number fell by 444, or 0.2 percent, on the month to 237,244. The job seeker rate was unchanged at 4.8 percent unadjusted and 5.0 percent seasonally adjusted.
Reported job vacancies rose by 466, or 1.1 percent, on the month to 44,199, an increase of 6,827, or 18.3 percent, on the year. Seasonally adjusted, vacancies rose 0.4 percent on the month and 21.2 percent on the year to 42,931. Of the unadjusted total, 29,251 were subject to the mandatory reporting requirement, up 39.7 percent from a year earlier.
In watchmaking, the unemployment rate fell to 5.3 percent from 5.5 percent in August and 6.1 percent a year earlier. In the chemical industry and petroleum processing category, which includes pharmaceuticals, the rate rose to 3.7 percent from 3.5 percent in August and 3.3 percent a year earlier.
The largest move was in leather, leather goods and footwear, where the rate fell 0.6 percentage point on the month to 7.4 percent but was 2.4 points higher than a year earlier. Textiles and clothing fell 0.9 point on the year to 2.8 percent, and rubber and plastics fell 0.7 point to 3.5 percent. Banking rose 0.6 point on the year to 3.7 percent, while information and communication, at 4.3 percent, and energy supply, at 2.1 percent, each rose 0.5 point.
Definition
The unemployment rate measures the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labour force. Both seasonally adjusted and unadjusted monthly data are provided.
Description
Like the employment data, unemployment data help to gauge the current state as well as the future direction of the economy. Employment data are categorized by sectors. This sector data can go a long way in helping investors determine in which economic sectors they intend to invest.
By tracking the jobs data, investors can sense the degree of tightness in the job market. If employment is tight it is a good bet that interest rates will rise and bond and stock prices will fall. In contrast, when job growth is slow or negative, then interest rates are likely to decline - boosting up bond and stock prices in the process.