The number of candidates in Switzerland who are confident about finding a job increased by 32% for Q1 2016 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest Page Personnel Candidate Confidence Index.

The index showed that when compared to the previous quarter, jobseeker confidence increased by 27%. Nearly half of the candidates interviewed, 48%, expect to be able to find a job in 3 months. This is the highest level since the survey began in Q1 2015 .

This increase was particularly marked among candidates from Generation Y and the French-speaking candidates:  62 % of candidates under 30 years have a new job in 3 months against 43% of candidates aged 30 to 50 years and 49% of candidates aged more than 50 years .  Moreover, 56% of French-speaking candidates think they can find a job in 3 months, against 40% in German-speaking Switzerland .

Meanwhile, 62 % of candidates under 30 years are expecting a salary increase over the next 12 months, against 46 % of candidates aged 30 to 50 years and 29% of candidates with more than 50 years .  46% of French-speaking candidates (45 % of Swiss German-speaking candidates ) are optimistic about the rising level of pay during this period. This represents an increase of 30% over the same period last year (no change in German Switzerland during this period) and an increase of 4 % between Q4 2015 and Q1 2016 ( against a decrease of 9% over the same period in German-speaking Switzerland).

"This confidence building is a challenge for employers who want to attract and retain talent, Xavier Chauville, Executive Director for Page Personnel, said. "This is particularly the case in the engineering and technical field of Swiss export-oriented industries such as MedTech , aerospace , pharmaceuticals , food processing and biotechnology. This can also include financial services specialists and FinTech (Financial Technology). The rebound in confidence in western Switzerland is the recent increase in the number of jobs after a freeze-up in recruitment activities in industry and financial services in 2015.”