Economics Minister Doris Leuthard says she has not ruled out the possibility that Switzerland could fall into a recession.

In an interview with Sunday's SonntagsBlick newspaper, Leuthard said the country could experience two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

In mid-September, Leuthard said there was "zero" risk of a recession.

The economics minister also indicated that unemployment would not rise rapidly and that immigration would decrease but added that there would be more temporary jobs and fewer vacant positions.

She said the unemployment rate would reach close to three per cent, or between 120,000 and 130,000, by 2009.

In October, the number of unemployed climbed to above 100,000 for the first time since April.

Leuthard said the economics ministry was preparing measures to support the export sector in the short and medium term.

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