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There is a shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland. Networking events are intended to bring employers and employees together.
“Eastern Switzerland is not unattractive, on the contrary. It may not be well known enough,” says Marcel Räpple, Head of Economic Development at the Thurgau Canton’s Office for Economics and Labour. For this reason, the “Springboard” event is now being organized together with the cantons of St. Gallen and the two Appenzells.
100 students from all parts of Switzerland met with representatives from 13 local companies in St. Gallen on Monday. The main goal is networking. “I want to know what companies are looking for,” says a business administration student.
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Networking between wine bottles: students and their future potential employers.
SRF, David Lendi
During the aperitif in the evening – company visits and workshops took place during the day – people exchange experiences. One student can draw a particularly good conclusion: “Perhaps the event just brought me a specific position.”
For the companies, it is primarily about presenting themselves and keeping an eye out. “We are always looking for fresh, young people,” says the representative of a company from the food industry.
Switzerland-wide shortage of skilled workers
Such events are important for companies – especially now that there is a shortage of skilled workers throughout Switzerland. According to a survey by the consulting firm Deloitte, there is currently a shortage of 85,000 skilled workers across Switzerland. The employment agency Dynajobs expects a shortage of 365,000 skilled workers by 2025, writes View on Tuesday.
According to this, traditional sectors such as IT, engineering and healthcare are hardest hit. Currently, however, the focus is also on areas that have been severely affected by the pandemic, such as the hotel and catering industry.
Fewer seekers, more jobs
There are no precise figures on a widespread shortage of skilled workers in Eastern Switzerland. However, a trend can be observed. At the beginning of April, the Office for Economics and Labor of the Canton of St. Gallen wrote of an above-average decline in job seekers.
In March 2022, 10,534 people were registered with the canton as looking for a job. A year ago there were 3570 more people, which corresponds to a decrease of over 25 percent. Compared to February alone, 4.5 percent fewer people were looking for work.
Eastern Switzerland is not unattractive, on the contrary. She is perhaps too little known.
At the same time, the number of vacancies is increasing. At the end of March, almost 6,000 jobs were registered with the regional employment center (RAV) of the canton of St. Gallen – more than ever before.
The way back”
A problem that arises specifically for Eastern Switzerland is the so-called “brain drain”. This means the emigration of qualified personnel. “Many of the students who grew up here study outside of our cantons. So it’s also about making the way back home more attractive,” says Marcel Räpple from the Thurgau Office for Economic Affairs. But there is also the opposite problem: Students who have moved to Eastern Switzerland leave Eastern Switzerland again after they graduate.
The “Springboard” events are also intended to offer prospects to potential returnees from Eastern Switzerland. They will take place throughout German-speaking Switzerland until the end of April, for example in Chur, Olten, Bern or Rapperswil-Jona.