Foreign workers residing in Switzerland allegedly receive lower compensation compared to native Swiss workers, according to a recent study.
The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) recently published a new study as part of their Work and Income survey, shedding light on the salary trends in Switzerland. The study reveals some interesting findings about the wages earned by Swiss citizens and foreign nationals.
According to the report, Swiss citizens earned a median salary of nearly 88,000 francs a year by the end of 2024, which is over 4,600 francs more than foreign nationals. G permit holders, or cross-border workers, earned 10,707 francs, which is higher than the median salary of Swiss employees.
However, the study also found that in senior positions, foreign employees were better paid than the Swiss. The wage differences between the two groups can be partly explained by labor market shortages, as foreign workers are often employed in sectors where there is a high demand for skilled labour.
Depending on the job and industry, foreigners, including cross-border workers, have higher salaries than the Swiss, according to The Local's 2024 report based on the FSO's data. The disparities in wages are greatest between Swiss and foreign men, with the former earning 18 percent more on average.
In middle and upper management positions, those with a B permit have the highest salaries, earning 12,791 francs a month. Foreign workers with a C permit earn 11,495 francs a month, which is higher than the median salary of Swiss employees (10,476 francs).
It is important to note that Switzerland's labor legislation prohibits discrimination based on a person's nationality, gender, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) stipulates that EU citizens cannot be treated unfavourably in terms of access to jobs or salary because of their nationality.
Despite the wage differences, there is no clear evidence in the current information that specifies particular job sectors in Switzerland where foreign workers earn more than Swiss citizens. The available information mostly covers overall wage trends, sector-specific wage increases, and hiring conditions without explicitly comparing salaries between foreign and Swiss workers by sector.
Expected wage increases are forecasted mainly in IT and telecommunications, energy, utilities, waste disposal, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, with wage growth ranging from about 1.4% to 2% on average. However, it does not explicitly mention whether foreign workers earn more than Swiss nationals in these roles.
In conclusion, the FSO's study reveals some interesting wage trends in Switzerland, but more research is needed to identify specific job sectors where foreign workers earn more than Swiss citizens. Generally, in Switzerland, wages are often determined by qualifications and experience rather than nationality, with foreign workers usually employed under conditions similar to Swiss employees for comparable roles.
- In the context of personal-finance and career-development, foreign employees in specific job sectors across Switzerland might potentially earn more than their Swiss counterparts, as indicated by The Local's 2024 report based on the FSO's data.
- For individuals interested in business and education-and-self-development, it's crucial to stay informed about Swiss wage trends, as emerging data suggests expected wage increases in sectors such as IT and telecommunications, energy, utilities, waste disposal, chemical, and pharmaceutical, though whether foreign workers earn more than Swiss citizens in these roles remains an area for further investigation.
