Job postings across Switzerland grew by 7% in Q3 2022 when compared to the same period a year ago, according to the latest Adecco Group Swiss Job Market Index.

After holding steady in the two previous quarters, the Adecco Group Swiss Job Market Index recorded slight growth again for the first time in the third quarter of 2023. Compared to the previous quarter (Q2 2023), the index showed a 3% increase in job advertisements.

The index for occupations in the mechanical engineering, electrical and metal industries (MEM) also shows an upward trend year on year, despite the current economic challenges in the MEM industry.

Particularly noteworthy are plant operators and assembly professions, where the number of job advertisements has risen by 30% compared to 2022. Technicians, automation engineers and electronics engineers (which include mechanical engineers, automation engineers and electrical engineers) are also in high demand, with a 24% increase in job advertisements. Close behind are engineers (e.g. process engineers, electrical engineers and mechanical engineers) with an increase of 19%.

Despite slower growth of 14% year on year respectively, the occupational groups of metalworkers (which includes occupations such as moulders, polishers and welders) as well as vehicle, machine and tool mechanics (e.g. automotive mechatronics technicians, polymechanics and micromechanics engineers) also demonstrate a clear positive trend compared to the previous year.

“Although the MEM industry is currently facing a cooling economy, the job market for MEM professions shows remarkably little decline year on year,” Yanik Kipfer, research associate, Swiss Job Market Monitor, said. “The continuing high order backlogs and the persistent shortage of skilled labour are a major factor in keeping capacity utilisation in the MEM sector above the long-term average, thus supporting the demand for skilled labour.”

Marcel Keller, country president Adecco Group Switzerland, said, “Although many economic indicators currently point to a challenging economic trend in Switzerland, the Adecco Group Swiss Job Market Index shows that the Swiss labour market is demonstrating impressive stability. A look at other labour market indicators confirms this resilience. According to the KOF Employment Indicator, most companies still plan to increase their number of employees in the near future and the unemployment rate remains at historically low levels despite a slight increase.”