Labour figures show weakening job market
Switzerland's labour market is slowing down, the Federal Statistics Office reported on Tuesday.
Figures for the first quarter of 2009 show the number of employed people and the number of jobs increased by 0.6 and 0.8 per cent, respectively. But the rate of growth is slower than in the same period last year and employment figures are the weakest in four years.
Manufacturing and other second-sector industries suffered the greatest slowdown, figures show. The number of jobs contracted 0.4 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2008 to about one million.
The number of people employed rose to 4.5 million people in Switzerland. The increase of 0.6 per cent over the first quarter of 2008 is a result of more women and foreigners entering the workforce.
Short-term statistics suggest the labour market will continue to worsen, the statistics office said.
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