A job is counted for every person carrying out an occupational activity in an enterprise and on whose wages compulsory OASI contributions (old-age and survivors’ insurance) are paid.
A person can be active in several enterprises but only once in a given enterprise.
FTEs correspond to the total of all work-time percentages for jobs held by persons working in an enterprise (for example the total of a 90% job, a 25% and two 50% jobs is 2.15 FTE).
The Job Statistics (JOBSTAT) are economic statistics that appear on a quarterly basis. They describe the evolution of employment, the number of job vacancies, difficulties in recruiting personnel and expected employment trends for Switzerland and its seven major regions.
The primary sector (agriculture), private household employees and those not subject to OASI contributions are not included in the statistics.
The survey universe is all enterprises domiciled in Switzerland. While all of the large enterprises are surveyed, a sample survey is made of small enterprises. 18 000 enterprises (65 000 businesses) are surveyed.
The Job Statistics have existed since 1925. To start with only a few economic activities were surveyed. Extended over the years. Figures from 1991 onwards are available on the internet. Other figures supplied upon request.
Quarterly figures for jobs by economic division are available starting from 1991 Q3; jobs by major region and sector from 1995 Q3 onwards.
Job vacancies (index) starting from 1997 and absolute figures from 2003.
Difficulties in recruitment and expected employment trends available from 2004.
The two statistics look at the labour market from different angles (JOBSTAT: Labour demand from businesses, ES: Labour supply from households). Discrepancies can occur due to the measurement units used. Possible explanations are: an employed person can hold several jobs, certain employment categories are excluded from JOBSTAT (primary sector or private household employees, etc.) Depending on the question being asked, one of the statistics is more suitable than the other.
Unfortunately figures on jobs are only available at national and major region level. For detailed figures (down to communal level or NOGA 6-digit), STATENT (only available in German or French) must be used.
Unfortunately results are only available for level BFS50. For detailed figures (down to communal level or NOGA 6-digit), STATENT (only available in German or French) must be used.
JOBSTAT (general):
Results can be found under “further information“
-> Tables (Excel tables) or
-> Data (Data cubes)."
JOBSTAT data are published at establishment level.