Neuchâtel, 24.05.2012 (FSO) – According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), expenditure on means-tested social benefits rose both in 2009 (+4.5%) and in 2010 (+8.2%). In spending on social assistance, the downward trend of the past three years was broken.
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Neuchâtel, 20.12.2011 (FSO) - In 2010, 231,046 people received social assistance benefits in Switzerland, corresponding to a percentage of persons receiving social assistance of 3.0%. At national level the social assistance rate remained at the same level as the previous year. But data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) indicates that trends differed from canton to canton as well as among the different categories of commune size. As in the previous year, in 2010 fewer social assistance cases could be closed by an improvement in the employment situation.
Neuchâtel, 10.11.2011 (FSO) - The financial situation of pension funds continued to stabilise in 2010. Net results from investment were considerably lower than in the previous year and totalled CHF 19.5 billion. Nevertheless, value fluctuation reserves of CHF 27 billion as well as a coverage gap of CHF 35 billion in relation to total assets of CHF 622.5 billion remained stable. This is shown in the provisional results of the Occupational Pension Plan Statistics for 2010 published by the Federal Statistical Office, which were gathered by means of random sampling.
Neuchâtel, 27.05.2011 (FSO) - The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has developed just under 50 indicators that observe various aspects of the situation of the older population. The demographic situation is analysed, as well as living circumstances, payments from the old age provision system, health and aspects of quality of life.
Neuchâtel, 21.12.2010 (FSO) - In 2009, 230,019 people received social assistance in Switzerland, corresponding to a percentage of persons receiving social assistance of 3%. Although very slight, this is the first increase since 2006: in 2008 the social assistance rate was 2.9%. Data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) indicates that the trend differed from canton to canton and between age groups. The 56-64 year old age group showed a great percentage increase in social assistance recipients compared with the previous year.
Neuchâtel, 05.11.2010 (FSO) - Favourable stock market trends in the second half of 2009 led to considerable easing of tension at the end of the year among occupational pension institutions. The balance of value re-adjustments and capital gains and losses rose to CHF 43.2 billion, resulting in a noticeable reduction of coverage gaps to CHF 34.5 billion (-40.3%) for the end of the year 2009. At the same time the value fluctuation reserves rose to CHF 24.8 billion (+193.5%). The total of assets amounting to CHF 598 billion reached almost the level of 2007. This is shown in the provisional Occupational Pension Plan Statistics for 2009 published by the Federal Statistical Office, which were gathered by means of random sampling.
Neuchâtel, 22.04.2010 (FSO) - In 2008, 221,262 people received social assistance in Switzerland, corresponding to a percentage of persons receiving social assistance of 2.9%. Thanks to the still-positive economic climate in 2008, the percentage of persons receiving social assistance fell for the second time in a row compared with the previous year (2007: 3.1%). Data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) indicates that the trend differed from canton to canton. As had been the case in previous years, the larger a municipality, the larger was its percentage of persons receiving social assistance. The young adults age group (18-25 years) benefited from a slightly above average decline in the number of cases.
Neuchâtel, 06.11.2009 (FSO) - The financial crisis was not without consequences for the 2008 occupational pension plans. During the year under review, there was a marked net loss in capital investments totalling CHF 76.2 billion, but for many institutions it was only a book loss. The value fluctuation reserves (end 2007: CHF 51.5 billion) amounted to CHF 8.5 billion at year end. Because insufficient reserves were allocated in many institutions, the coverage gap rose palpably to CHF 57.3 billion (2007: CHF 17.8 billion). In addition, uncommitted funds had to be reduced from CHF 9.4 billion to CHF 1.3 billion. As a result of the downslide in prices in the investment markets, the balance sheet total declined to CHF 537 billion (-11.3%). This is shown in the provisional Occupational Pension Plan Statistics for 2008 published by the Federal Statistical Office, which were gathered by means of random sampling.
Neuchâtel, 05.06.2009 (FSO) - Just over half of young adults who draw social assistance do not have a post-compulsory educational qualification and are not following any education. Just under a sixth of assisted young adults already have children for whom they have to provide care. The social assistance risk of young adults varies from canton to canton and is to a significant extent attributable to different regional structures. These are the findings of an in-depth analyses of the problems faced by young adults receiving social assistance.
Neuchâtel, 19.05.2009 (FSO) - Total expenditure on social security rose in 2007 to CHF 142.4 billion (2006: CHF 137.2 billion). Inflation-adjusted expenditure rose by 1.8% per inhabitant. Due to strong economic growth, the social expenditure rate (social expenditure in relation to GDP) in 2007 decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 27.8%.This is the third consecutive fall in the rate since the all-time high of 2004 (29.3%).These findings are based on provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Neuchâtel, 14.05.2009 (FSO) - In 2007, 233,484 people in Switzerland obtained social assistance benefits, which corresponds to a 3.1% rate of social assistance recipients. Despite the good economic climate since 2004, the rate of social assistance recipients registered only a slight decline compared to the previous year (2006: 3.3%). Analyses of the Swiss Social Assistance Statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show that single-parent households continue to register the highest social assistance rates. 56-64-year-olds were the only age group of working age that were not able to benefit from a decline in the rate of social assistance recipients.
Neuchâtel, 07.04.2009 (FSO) - The social assistance and poverty statistics provide comprehensive information on the number and composition of households in financial difficulty. Both statistics deal with similar, but not identical social phenomena. The groups at risk are similar, but the level and extent of the difficulties are different. During the period under consideration (1990-2006), a trend towards an increase in the number of social assistance recipients can be observed, whereas the poverty rate is subject to fluctuations. Both social assistance and poverty rates are directly dependent on the unemployment situation and ? with a time lag ? ultimately on economic development. These are the findings from an in-depth analysis of data from the social assistance and poverty statistics, carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Neuchâtel, 06.11.2008 (FSO) - After pensions funds were able to significantly build up value fluctuation reserves in the previous two years due to the positive trend of the financial markets (2005: +85%; 2006: +25%), they had to write them down by 2.5% during this reporting year; by the end of the year under review, they stood at CHF 51.4 billion. This corresponds to 8.5% of the total, which rose by CHF 23.3 billion from the previous year to more than CHF 606 billion (+4%). This is shown in the provisional Occupational Pension Plan Statistics for 2007 published by the Federal Statistical Office, which were gathered by means of random sampling.
