Swiss companies advertised 5% more job ads in the third quarter of 2019 when compared to the same period a year ago, according to the Adecco Group Swiss Job Market Index conducted by the Swiss Job Market Monitor from the University of Zurich.

Compared to the previous quarter, the number of job ads remained stagnant.

The number of job advertisements for professions in the health sector (+15%) as well as the construction and renovation sector (+12%) increased the most compared to the previous year.

Within construction, companies are continuing to look for personnel to complete upcoming building construction projects. 

Teaching and public services professions saw an increase of 10% compared with the previous year, which was attributed to an increased demand for teachers.

For all other occupational groups, the rise in the number of job advertisements was 5% or lower, with the exception of a decline for finance and fiduciary professions (–7%).

With an increase of 8% compared with the previous year and an increase of 4% compared with the previous quarter, the rise in the number of job vacancies in Northwestern Switzerland was greater than in the other regions. Furthermore, all occupational groups in this region saw an increase compared with the previous year.

Eastern Switzerland reported an increase of 7%, however in the quarter-on-quarter comparison there was a slight decrease (–4%) in the number of job advertisements. 

Compared with the previous year, both the Lake Geneva region and Espace Mittelland saw a 5% rise, though compared with the previous quarter this level stagnated.

The job market in the Greater Zurich area increased by 4% compared with the previous year, however stagnated with a slight 2% decline compared with the previous quarter. Meanwhile, Central Switzerland reported a 3% decrease, both in the year-on-year and the quarter-on-quarter comparison.