Working hours, absences and holidays

In focus

Hours worked

Hours worked

In 2022, 7.922 billion hours were worked in Switzerland, an increase of 1.3% compared with the previous year. The pre-pandemic level was achieved.

Evolution of working hours from 2010 to 2020

In Switzerland, annual working hours per employed person decreased by 3.9% between 2010 and 2019. This reduction is due to the growth of part-time work and holidays, an increase in certain types of absences as well as a decrease in overtime. Between 2019 and 2020, working hours in Switzerland fell by 3.4% as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Available in French and German



Working time indicators provide macroeconomic data on the annual volume of actual hours worked for the entire Swiss economy and thus offer a basis for calculating productivity per hour worked. They also provide detailed data on the components of actual hours worked per job (contractual or usual hours, absences and overtime) as well as the number of weeks of holidays. Additionally, the FSO uses the concept of normal hours of work when aggregating the contractual hours of salaried employees and the usual hours of self-employed persons.

Further information

Publications

Press Releases

Statistical sources and concepts

On this topic

Actual hours worked

Volume of actual hours worked, trends in working hours

Contractual working hours of employees

Contractual working hours of employees by economic sector

Usual working hours

Usual working hours by employment status, teachers' usual working hours

Overtime

Paid and unpaid overtime

Absences

Hours of absence by reason for absence: illness/accident, maternity leave, reduction of working hours, military or civilian service, other reasons

Holidays

Weeks of contractual holiday entitlement

Contact

Federal Statistical Office Section Labour Force
Espace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Tel.
+41 58 463 64 00

Monday to Friday
9.00–11.30 and 14.00–16.00

Contact

Remark

Our English pages offer only a limited range of information on our statistical production. For our full range please consult our pages in French and German (top right hand screen).

https://www.bfs.admin.ch/content/bfs/en/home/statistics/work-income/employment-working-hours/working-hours.html