Following concerns and criticism at its plans to install cameras in stations, this week Swiss Rail defended its plan, reported RTS. The train operator said that the cameras, which will record passenger movements in some of its nationwide network of stations, will not record personal data or use facial recognition technology. Last week, the consumer […]
Swiss inflation accelerated in January 2023
Upward pressure on prices continues in Switzerland. Recently published data show annual inflation rising to 3.3% to the end of January 2023, up from 2.8% at the end of 2022. Public sector workers in parts of Switzerland have been demanding salary increases. In Vaud they have been demanding indexation. Looking back across a longer period […]
Living alone most common way to live in Switzerland
Data published this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show the number of single person households continues to rise. Eight years ago there were 1.3 million single person households. The latest figures show there are 1.4 million, a rise of around 10%. This type of household makes up 38.4% of the total, up from […]
Swiss homeownership rates remain static
In 2021, 1.4 million households in Switzerland owned their home, 36.3% percent of all households, according to statistics published on 23 February 2023. The rate of homeownership in Switzerland has remained fairly stable since 2000. Back then it was 34.6%. After rising to 38.4% in 2016, it has declined gradually to where it is today […]
Swiss ambassador angers Iranians with chador
Switzerland’s ambassador to Iran angered Iranians around the world by wearing a chador, a traditional full-body-length garment that is pulled over the head, while visiting Qom, a holy city in Iran, reported RTS. People from around the world, including Switzerland, reacted with outrage at the images. For many months, a large number of Iranians have […]
Low underground water levels cause concern in Switzerland
At climate change bites the effects are becoming more apparent in Switzerland. A current concern is the lack of ground water, reported RTS this week. The amount of rainfall in parts of Switzerland in 2022 was half of what it was in 2021. The cantons of Valais and Ticino in particular have been badly affected. […]
Strong job market boosts Swiss immigration in 2022
This week, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration published data showing a 32% rise in the net number of foreigners arriving in Switzerland in 2022 compared to 2021. The key driver of migration was employment. In 2022, 81,345 foreigners made Switzerland home, up from 61,526 in 2021. The number of non-Swiss citizens residing in Switzerland at […]
Risk of cracks rising for houses built on clay
More and more soil is being impacted by drought. Clay soils in particular are affected by drought. These soils expand and contract depending on their water content and often crack when dry. Building on them can be risky and requires a particular structural design. Home owners in parts of France have already been impacted by […]
Swiss government confirms first underlying deficit since 2005
On 15 February 2023, Switzerland’s federal government published finalised figures showing it spent CHF 4.3 billion more than it received in 2022. Excluding extraordinary expenses related to the Covid pandemic left an underlying operating deficit of CHF 1.9 billion, the first shortfall of this kind since 2005. Switzerland’s federal government is required to operate under […]
Only 19% of Swiss youth positive about future
After taking a dive during the pandemic, life satisfaction bounced back in Switzerland, according to a recent survey. However, among those aged 18 to 25 life satisfaction has continued to decline, falling from 43% in 2021 to 19% in 2022. The aim of the annual survey is to assess the generation gap in Switzerland. Overall, […]
