Since the World Happiness Report was first published in 2012, Switzerland has always been ranked near the top. In the 2015 report it was ranked first. The report takes a serious look at some hard-to-quantify but important measures of human wellbeing. It aims to shift the measurement of wellbeing beyond metrics such as wealth, the […]
Compulsory Swiss military service: reform options include women
This week, against the backdrop of war in Ukraine, Switzerland’s federal government set out a number of options for the reform of Switzerland’s military service. By 2024, the government aims to have a reform plan, which might extend compulsory service to women. Work on the project began long before the war in Ukraine. A key […]
The people who moved in Switzerland in 2020
During 2020, 10.3% of Switzerland’s population moved. The average distance moved was 12.5 km. However, the likelihood of movement and the distance moved varied significantly by age and nationality. People in the age band between 20 and 40 were the most likely to move. There was also a small bump in numbers between the ages […]
Young Swiss smoking less and drinking more
A new study of Switzerland’s young people shows how views and habits have changed among this group over 10 years. Overall, 19 year old Swiss smoke less, do less sport and consume more alcohol than they did 10 years ago. In addition, the vast majority reported being generally satisfied with life. Around three quarters said […]
Switzerland’s large number of homeless
According to a recent report by the Federal Housing Office (OFL) there are an estimated 2,200 homeless residents in Switzerland and another 8,000 at risk of losing their homes. The authors of the report collected information from 616 municipalities across 22 cantons to compile the data. 616 municipalities covers around 28% of Switzerland’s total. Reasons […]
More women at head of large Swiss companies
The percentage of women in senior management positions at companies listed on the Swiss SMI and SMIM indexes rose from 13% in 2020 to 19% in 2021. The rise reflects an increase in the number of women being nominated for these positions in 2021. During the year 4 out of 10 nominees were women, according […]
Swiss government aims to cut welfare benefits paid to some foreigners
In response to rising welfare costs, Switzerland’s Federal Council has put forward a proposal to cut the amounts paid to non-EU immigrants in Switzerland, reported RTS. Between 2010 and 2019, the cost of welfare in Switzerland rose by CHF 0.9 billion to CHF 2.8 billion (+47%), straining the finances of some cantons and municipalities. The […]
The concept of a 4-day week makes headway in Switzerland
A 4-day work week on 100% pay has become a reality at some small businesses in Switzerland, reports RTS. Andreas Ott, the owner of a small graphic design studio in the canton of Aargau told the SonntagsZeitung that his clients reported no issues with staff taking Fridays off. Ott introduced the concept several years ago […]
Switzerland gave a record 100 million to World Food Programme in 2021
Over the course of 2021, Switzerland gave CHF 100 million to the World Food Programme, reported RTS, the highest annual sum the country has ever given to the programme. A key driver of the size of the payment was a growing need for international food relief. Food shortages and malnutrition affected an estimated 800 million […]
Women speak out in favour of raising retirement age for Swiss women
In Switzerland, the official state pension age is 65 for men and 64 for women. Government plans to make the retirement age 65 for both men and women have met with resistance from groups fighting against gender discrimination in Switzerland. The change would not affect women about to retire, and those born between 1960 and […]
