Switzerland Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Switzerland's youth unemployment was 9.04% in 2025, ranked 59th globally. This represents a 9.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Switzerland's youth unemployment stood at 9.04% in 2025, a rise of +0.80pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 8.92% by 2026. Switzerland ranked 59th globally.
Switzerland’s youth unemployment rate has risen sharply over the past three and a half decades, climbing from a low of 3.01 % in 1992 to a peak of 9.04 % in 2025, which places the country 59th globally. The latest figure of 9.04 % marks both the highest level recorded since the series began in 1991 (3.27 % that year) and the all‑time peak, reflecting a reversal of the downward trend that characterized the 1990s and early 2000s. Compared with peer economies, the rate is slightly lower than Belarus’s 9.18 % and Czechia’s 9.22 % but exceeds the Netherlands at 8.83 % and Hong Kong SAR, China at 8.96 %. The escalation coincides with broader labour‑market pressures such as skill mismatches and slower job creation for recent graduates. If policy measures succeed in enhancing vocational training and aligning curricula with market needs, the upward trajectory could be mitigated, allowing the rate to stabilize or decline in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 9.49% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 9.20% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 8.92% | - | - |
| 2025 | 9.04% | +0.80pp | #59 |
| 2024 | 8.24% | +0.37pp | #49 |
| 2023 | 7.87% | +1.03pp | #47 |
| 2022 | 6.84% | −1.48pp | #41 |
| 2021 | 8.32% | −0.29pp | #43 |
| 2020 | 8.60% | +0.61pp | #43 |
| 2019 | 7.99% | +0.06pp | #49 |
| 2018 | 7.94% | −0.12pp | #49 |
| 2017 | 8.06% | −0.52pp | #47 |
| 2016 | 8.58% | −0.24pp | #49 |
| 2015 | 8.82% | +0.22pp | #54 |
| 2014 | 8.60% | −0.15pp | #51 |
| 2013 | 8.74% | +0.42pp | #51 |
| 2012 | 8.33% | +0.60pp | #48 |
| 2011 | 7.73% | −0.49pp | #41 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Switzerland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2016. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Switzerland's youth unemployment was 9.04% in 2025. Ranked 59th globally. This represents a 9.7% increase from the previous year.
Switzerland's youth unemployment peaked at 9.04% in 2025.
The lowest youth unemployment in Switzerland was 3.01% in 1992.
Switzerland ranks 59th globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Switzerland's youth unemployment is projected to reach 8.92% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Switzerland in 2025 was 9.04%. This ranks 59th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_switzerland_youth-unemployment,
title = {Switzerland Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/switzerland/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}