The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Report: it pays for companies to have apprentices

painter apprentices
It doesn't cost as much to train a painter as it does an IT specialist Keystone / Steffen Schmidt

Firms in Switzerland may benefit annually by over CHF3,000 ($3,000) per apprentice when they train their own apprentices, a report has found.

The fourth cost-benefit studyExternal link conducted by the Observatory for Vocational Education and Training of the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (OBS SFIVETExternal link), published on TuesdayExternal link, revealed that most companies with apprenticeship programmes found it cheaper to train their own skilled workers than to hire them externally. 

Switzerland’s dual system of vocational training, that combines education with an apprenticeship at a host company, is often held up as a model for others.External link It’s the route taken by almost two-thirds of school leavers, aged 15-16, each year. 

The authorities are therefore keen to promote the importance of internal training. 

+ Is 14 too early to make a career choice? 

The willingness of employers to offer apprenticeship training however very much depends on the costs and benefits associated with apprenticeships. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). which commissioned the reportExternal link, has estimated that only around 40% of companiesExternal link who could offer training actually do so and the challenges of offering training are greater for small companies (finding the right specialized trainer, for example). 

More than 5,700 companies with apprenticeship schemes and over 4,000 companies without apprenticeship schemes responded to the online survey on the cost-benefit of apprenticeships. Being surveyed were the three- and four-year Federal VET Diploma (EFZ) courses for the 2016/17 training year, and, for the first time, the newer two-year Federal VET Certificate (EBA) courses (for more practical professions which are generally taken by weaker studentsExternal link). 

Costs depend on apprenticeship 

The gross costs for an apprenticeship of all types was on average CHF28,070 per year. This included the apprentices’ salaries – which are generally low – as well as recruiting and human resources costs. Equipment and material were also budgeted in.  

The net benefit to companies of vocational training for youngsters averaged CHF31,240 per year. In all, two-thirds of companies reported a net benefit, the rest however spent more on training than they received back in benefit.  

A reason for this is that some professions cost more to train than others: painting and decorating was a “cheaper” apprenticeship than IT specialists or those working with high-tech or complex machinery, such as polymechanics techniciansExternal link. Both of these jobs require a lot of extra trainingExternal linkan article accompanying the studyExternal link said. But afterwards, these apprentices are often taken on, so it is still worth the companies’ while, it explained.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

A live scarecrow competition to thrill Denens (VD)

More

Live scarecrow competition set to thrill Swiss

This content was published on The Fête de l'Epouvantail (scarecrow festival) is celebrating its 30th anniversary and returns to Denens in canton Vaud for its seventh edition from July 10-20.

Read more: Live scarecrow competition set to thrill Swiss
Man dies in accident on toboggan run in Matten near Interlaken BE

More

Man dies on Swiss toboggan run

This content was published on A 35-year-old man has died in a work accident at the valley station of the Heimwehfluh toboggan run in Matten near Interlaken, canton Bern.

Read more: Man dies on Swiss toboggan run
The Swiss embassy in Tehran reopens

More

Swiss embassy in Tehran re-opens

This content was published on The Swiss embassy in Tehran re-opened on Sunday after being closed on June 20 owing to the unstable situation in the country.

Read more: Swiss embassy in Tehran re-opens
Queen of the Netherlands attends European Championship match in Lucerne

More

Euro 2025: Dutch queen cheers on team in Lucerne

This content was published on Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and her youngest daughter Princess Ariane attended the Netherlands' women's European Championship football match against Wales in Switzerland on Saturday.

Read more: Euro 2025: Dutch queen cheers on team in Lucerne
30-year-old charged with drone flight at Women's European Championships

More

Man charged with flying drone at women’s Euro 2025

This content was published on A man flew a drone around the venue on Wednesday evening during the first match of the Women's EURO 2025 in St. Gallen. The 30-year-old violated the absolute ban on flying during match days. He was reported to the police.

Read more: Man charged with flying drone at women’s Euro 2025
257 Swiss companies are members of the SBTi

More

More than 250 Swiss companies sign CO2 reduction initiative

This content was published on A total of 257 companies from Switzerland have signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). In doing so, they are committing to CO2 reduction targets that are compatible with the Paris Climate Agreement.

Read more: More than 250 Swiss companies sign CO2 reduction initiative

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR