In the 1st quarter 2024, 216 000 persons were unemployed in Switzerland as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the same number as a year earlier. These unemployed persons represented 4.3% of the economically active population, i.e. the same share as in the 1st quarter of 2023. After correction for seasonal variations, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points compared with the previous quarter, rising from 4.1% to 4.0%.
Unemployment based on the ILO definition affects women (4.3% in 2023) more often than men (3.9%) and persons of foreign nationality (6.6%) more often than Swiss nationals (3.0%). Young people (15-24 years) are also much more affected by unemployment (8.1%) than other age groups (25-39 years: 3.9%; 40-54 years: 3.4%; 55-64 years: 3.4%).
In 2023, the number of long-term unemployed as per the ILO definition (1 year or more) was 71 000, which was a decrease compared with 2022. Persons unemployed for 1 year or more represented 1.5% of the economically active population or 34.8% of the total number of unemployed based on ILO definition.
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