Transport sector hit by fresh unemployment

Swissair's collapse has helped push unemployment figures upwards Keystone Archive

The collapse of Swissair has had a strong influence on unemployment in the transport and communications sector, nearly doubling the total number of jobless in November.

According to figures released by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs on Tuesday, more than 1,200 jobs were lost in the sector in the past month. This was 42.9 per cent more than in October.

Overall, just under 78,000 people were unemployed in Switzerland, up 13.7 per cent over the previous month. The national unemployment rate is now 2.1 per cent.

Computer services and consulting were also hit hard by job losses, which increased by one-fifth. The hospitality, retail, construction, metalworking, and machinery trades were also among those sectors that suffered in November.

All cantons noted an increase in the number of unemployed, with Zurich taking a nearly 20 per cent rise. German-speaking Switzerland still suffers less from unemployment, though, with a rate of 1.8 per cent, while other regions average 3.1 per cent.

The jobless rate for foreigners remains three points above that of their Swiss counterparts, at 4.3 per cent. Overall, it is the group between 20 and 44 years of age that suffered the most job cuts in November.

swissinfo with agencies