Rise in the number of unemployed in Central Switzerland

The number of unemployed people in the six cantons of Central Switzerland rose in August compared to the previous month. The unemployment rate only increased in the cantons of Lucerne and Schwyz, however.

6,629 people were unemployed in Central Switzerland in August 2024, which is 313 more than in the previous month. The unemployment ratio in the canton of Lucerne rose from 1.5% to 1.6%, and in Schwyz from 0.9% to 1.0%. The highest unemployment rate in Central Switzerland is in the canton of Zug, at 2.1% (unchanged).

The unemployment rate in Uri (0.9%), Obwalden (0.7%) and Nidwalden (0.8%) is also unchanged compared to the previous month. Across Switzerland, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1%, to 2.4 %.

Entrance area of the WAS (Wirtschaft Arbeit Soziales) office in Sursee        Photo: Manuela Jans-Koch

Compared to August 2023, unemployment rates have risen in all six cantons of Central Switzerland, with the highest increases in the cantons of Lucerne and Zug of 0.5 and 0.4 percentage points, respectively. However, there were also 3,677 job vacancies in Central Switzerland last month, with the highest number in the canton of Lucerne (2,046), followed by 753 vacancies in the canton of Schwyz.