Working in Switzerland

Because of the reputation that Switzerland holds for being one of the countries in the world offering the individual such an incredibly high standard of living, it is an increasingly popular destination with those looking for work abroad.

There are many employment opportunities in the banking, pharmaceutical and IT industries in particular, but anyone interested in working in Switzerland needs to be aware of the restrictions placed upon them and the visas and permits they will need to apply for before they enter the country.

Unemployment is incredibly low in Switzerland and the Swiss would like to keep it that way - which is one of the main reasons why it is quite difficult for an expatriate to live and work in Switzerland.  Basically an employer needs to be able to prove that the local workforce cannot fill a given position before he can offer it to an international employee.

Those who originally come from an EU member state will generally find it the easiest to acquire a work permit in Switzerland, but anyone who intends to work in the country will have to have an L, B or C permit in place before they take up an offer of employment.  Most employers will secure a visa for an employee coming from overseas.

The majority of positions held in Switzerland by overseas workers are high end, specialist or managerial posts where an employer can easily prove a requirement to employ a specifically skilled or experienced individual.  Anyone serious about finding work abroad in Switzerland should therefore ensure any relevant skills and qualifications they have are detailed on their CV or resume and should then consider using international recruitment agencies or agencies which specialize in placing people in their specific line of work to find them a position in Switzerland.

Although Switzerland is well known as an offshore tax haven, those who end up living and working in Switzerland will be required to pay income tax on their earnings as soon as they become resident in the country.  The country is divided up into different administrative areas called cantons and each of the cantons of Switzerland sets the rate of tax payable.  This means that income tax differs countrywide, but the most an individual can expect to have to pay on earnings is about 30%.

Expatriates living in Switzerland today enjoy a good standard of living; education and health care facilities in the country are excellent for example, although private schooling is expensive and there is no state health care scheme.  This means that those who intend to move to Switzerland should ensure that they have private medical insurance in place and may like to negotiate school fees as part of an overall remuneration package. 

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