In recent years, Switzerland has become one of Europe’s most attractive countries to live in. Especially working in Switzerland has a lot to offer for European highly qualified employees seeking well-paid jobs

Switzerland is one of the smaller countries in Europe, nevertheless, it has one of the most powerful economies in Europe and a per capita GDP that ranks higher than that of its larger European neighbours, the United States or Japan. This small country in the heart of Europe has been famous for its neutrality for almost 200 years now. This explains why it does not take part in the NATO and may explain why many Swiss still reject becoming a member of the European Union. In a 2001 referendum about membership in the EU, 77,3% of the Swiss voted against becoming a full member. In order to impede neutrality from turning into economic isolation in Europe, Switzerland has signed several bilateral treaties with other European countries as well as with the European Union. Among these was a treaty that has been enacted on June 1^st, 2007, which finally allows EU-citizens to work in Switzerland without any restrictions.

Why working in Switzerland is very attractive for many European employees can be explained by a mere dropping of facts: It has one of the most competitive economies in Europe, it had a GDP growth of about 3,4% in 2007. The per capita GDP is at 41.000 Euros. Unemployment rate in 2007 was at 2,8% which - according to the definition of the term – means full employment. No wonder many foreigners are trying to get a well-paid job in Switzerland, which for many members of the European Union must seem like an employees‘ paradise. In fact, more than 20% of the less than 7,7 million people living in Switzerland are foreigners. Concerning employees, the figure is even higher. About 27% of the employed are of foreign origin.

The relatively high number of foreigners living and working in Switzerland explains why contemporary Swiss policy focuses on these topics. On the one hand, these often highly qualified foreign employees are essential to the country’s efficiency. On the other hand, some Swiss look at these foreigners coming into their country with a certain uneasiness, as they don’t want to lose their jobs to foreigners, as well as they don’t want to lose their particular Swiss identity.

These issues led to a rise of the conservative party SVP (Schweizerische Volkspartei) – the Swiss People’s Party – and led it to a win in the parliamentary elections in 2007. Most recently, the SVP – now enforcing an oppositional policy - failed with a referendum on naturalization trying to limit the number of people getting Swiss nationality. On June 1^st, 2008, 63,8% of the Swiss voted against that initiative. 

Swiss industry is famous for its high-quality products. The most important branches of industry are mechanical engineering, banking, tourism, watch-making, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. European diplomas are being recognized. Despite all of the debate, foreign labour force is essential for the competitiveness of the Swiss economy. As the Swiss federation of trade unions puts it: „What we need in Switzerland is a brain-gain, not a brain-drain.“ But what jobs are being offered to foreign workers, where is a high demand of human resources? What kind of personnel is being looked for?