Zurich’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.9% in May, even as the number of job vacancies reported to regional employment centres fell and companies kept a cautious outlook on hiring. The canton said the labour market remains broadly robust, but the latest figures point to slower momentum in recruitment.
The employment outlook is still subdued, and companies are not yet showing a strong willingness to expand hiring.
The number of job vacancies reported to the regional employment centers (RAV) fell by 739 in May compared to the previous month, now standing at 6,920.
Notably, a total of 25,539 people were registered as unemployed at Zurich’s regional employment centres in May, 278 fewer than in April.
Zurich Unemployment Persists: 334 More People Jobless Now
On a seasonally adjusted basis, however, Zurich unemployment rose slightly by 334 people, underlining that the labour market is stable but not clearly strengthening.
Vacancy trends point in the same direction. Reported openings fell by 739 from the previous month, with the sharpest declines in mobile equipment operators, waiters and waitresses, and agricultural labourers. At the same time, Zurich unemployment fell among construction workers, hospitality staff and sales employees, while increases were recorded among software developers and analysts, business administration managers and financial-sector academics.
Zurich companies assessed their current business situation positively in May, but the canton said the outlook for the next six months remains muted.
The hesitation is most visible in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and the financial sector, where employers remain reluctant to increase staff levels. For jobseekers, the data suggest that Zurich remains a relatively stable labour market by European standards, but one that is no longer showing clear signs of acceleration.
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