The Swiss nominal wage index rose by 0.9% on average in 2022 compared with 2021. It settled at 100.7 points (base 2020 = 100). Given an average annual inflation rate of +2.8%, real wages fell by 1.9% (97.3 points, base 2020 = 100) according to calculations by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
In 2022, nominal wages rose by an average of 0.9% compared with the previous year (2021: –0.2%; 2020: +0.8%; 2019: +0.9%; 2018: +0.5%). In the most important collective labour agreements (CLA), to which almost half a million employees are party, an effective wage increase (nominal wages) of +0.3% was agreed for 2022.
The rise in prices caused in particular by higher gas, oil, car and rent prices led to an exceptional inflation of +2.8% at the end of 2022. Due to the adjustment of nominal wages to inflation, the purchasing power of wages decreased by 1.9%.
