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

Ageing population threatens Swiss prosperity, study warns

Elderly man opening taxi car door
Older people want to work but find opportunities limited. Christof Schuerpf

Switzerland must do more to find employment options for older citizens and increase work productivity says the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco). If not, prosperity for all will decline as the population ages.

The median age of the Swiss population has risen to 43 compared to 32 in 1970. By 2060 this will rise further to 48-years-old going by current fertility rates. Increasing immigration would have little effect on this trend, SecoExternal link states in a series of studiesExternal link.

The government department has urged politicians to find more ways to include the older workforce in productive economic activity. Seco also says that work productivity must be raised across all age groups to avoid levels of prosperity from sinking.

Economists have already predicted a shortfall in the labour market of up to half a million jobs by 2030. Deloitte recently released a survey of 1,000 peopleExternal link aged between 50 and 64 that suggested 40% would consider working beyond retirement age – the vast majority full-time.

Willing to work

Deloitte states that just 23% of people aged 65-69 years old currently have employment in Switzerland, below the OECD average of 27%. The consultancy believes that the labour force could be expanded by 578,000 workers if jobs could be found for 40% of people who say they want to work beyond retirement age.

However, most people (30%) surveyed expect their wishes to fall on deaf ears as employers will not want to hire them. Some 46% of retired people in the survey said they were made to stop working even though they wanted to continue.

In Switzerland, the statutory retirement ageExternal link is 65 for men and 64 for women. Earlier this year, the government presented plans to incrementally increase the retirement age of women to 65 while offering incentives for all people to work longer.

This was the latest in a series of plans to save the state pension system from collapsing.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Gurten Festival attracts 98,000 people to Bern's local mountain

More

Gurten Festival wraps up with 98,000 music lovers

This content was published on Over the four days, around 98,000 people – including volunteers – made their way up Bern’s local mountain for the 42nd edition of the festival.

Read more: Gurten Festival wraps up with 98,000 music lovers
Army seeks "contemporary" solution for bunker facilities

More

Swiss army looks to repurpose old bunkers

This content was published on The army is looking for a modern solution for its decommissioned fortress mortar bunkers, with plans to turn them into hardened defence hubs.

Read more: Swiss army looks to repurpose old bunkers
Women's Euro: Berne celebrates a football festival without a happy ending

More

Switzerland knocked out of Women’s Euro 2025

This content was published on Spain ended Switzerland’s run in the Women’s Euros on Friday, but fans in Bern made history with the largest supporters’ march in Women’s Euros history.

Read more: Switzerland knocked out of Women’s Euro 2025
Solar aeroplane flies around the Matterhorn

More

Solar plane flies around Matterhorn

This content was published on Solar energy pioneer Raphaël Domjan and his team continued preparations for the altitude record attempt at 10,000 metres with the SolarStratos solar aircraft.

Read more: Solar plane flies around Matterhorn
Compulsory vaccination against cattle disease in Geneva and parts of Vaud

More

Vaccinations imposed for some Swiss cattle

This content was published on Cattle in the canton of Geneva and in the neighbouring region of Terre Sainte in the canton of Vaud are being vaccinated against the contagious viral skin nodule disease. The first cases of the animal disease were reported at the end of June in France, just outside Geneva.

Read more: Vaccinations imposed for some Swiss cattle

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