In the 1st quarter 2023, 216 000 persons were unemployed in Switzerland as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), i.e. 11 000 less than one year previously. These unemployed persons represented 4.3% of the economically active population, i.e. a slightly lower percentage than that observed in the 1st quarter 2022 (4.6%). After correction for seasonal variations, the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points compared with the previous quarter, rising from 4.4% to 4.1%.
Unemployment based on the ILO definition affects women (4.6% in 2022) more often than men (4.1%) and persons of foreign nationality (7.2%) more often than Swiss nationals (3.2%). Young people (15-24 years) are also much more affected by unemployment (7.5%) than other age groups (25-39 years: 4.4%; 40-54 years: 3.7%; 55-64 years: 3.9%).
In 2022, the number of long-term unemployed as per the ILO definition (1 year or more) was 86 000, which was a decrease compared with 2021. Persons unemployed for 1 year or more represented 1.7% of the economically active population or 40.4% of the total number of unemployed based on ILO definition.
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