Women over 50: the most productive group in the Swiss labor market

More than half of Swiss employees do more at work than is expected of them - according to a new, representative study by Swissstaffing and gfs-zürich with 1242 respondents. One group in particular stands out: women aged 50 and over. 70 percent of them exceed the requirements of their job. Overall, 57 percent of all respondents are more committed than expected, while only 3 percent say they only do the bare minimum. Internal resignation thus remains a marginal phenomenon in Switzerland.

Commitment and loyalty go hand in hand

In general, 63% of employees over 50 are more committed than average - more than in any other age group. The lowest figure is recorded by men aged between 18 and 29 at 36%. In addition to their willingness to perform, the study also shows that older employees are extremely loyal: 71% of women over 50 have no intention of changing jobs. For companies, this means stable motivation, low fluctuation and secure knowledge transfer.

These findings are in clear contradiction to the reservations that employees over 50 are still confronted with in application procedures.

200,000 people - the largest labor reserve that can be activated

At over 200,000 people, inactive people aged 50 and over represent Switzerland's largest reserve of labor that can be activated, and this figure is set to rise until 2050. 62 percent of them - around 126,000 people - are women. «This means that the group that shows the greatest willingness to work is also the largest untapped potential workforce in Switzerland,» explains Ariane M. Baer, author of the study and project manager at Swissstaffing.

With the wave of baby boomers retiring, the structural shortage of skilled workers will worsen noticeably in the coming years. In the long term, the Swiss labor market will only be able to overcome this challenge if the employment potential of the 50-plus age group is consistently exploited. In the coming decades, the 50-64 age group will make up more than a third of the working-age population.

Flexible working models as a key lever

Flexible working models are crucial for tapping into the potential of 50-plus employees and keeping them in the workforce for longer. Flexible working hours (82%) and part-time work (81%) are particularly relevant for women. Working from home and job sharing also play an important role. Men in the same age group prefer project-based or freelance work more often. It is worth noting that around half of inactive women over 50 would take up employment if their working hours or level of employment could be arranged flexibly. «This shows that It is not a lack of willingness that is the reason for inactivity, but the lack of availability of suitable working models,» says study author Baer.

Personnel service providers as bridge builders

Temporary work as a flexible form of employment can make an important contribution to activating the labor market potential of people aged 50 and over. It enables low-threshold, individual assignments and makes it easier for people who are not gainfully employed to return to work. It also supports voluntary continued employment beyond the normal retirement age. It combines flexibility with social security thanks to the CBA Staff Leasing. Professional personnel service providers use their network to help bring experienced workers and companies together.

The full white paper «Potential 50plus: Why women over 50 are crucial for the future of the labor market» is available for download at www.swissstaffing.ch/whitepaper.

Study design: On behalf of Swissstaffing, the gfs-zürich institute surveyed 1242 people in Switzerland aged between 18 and 65 (or non-retired people up to the age of 70). In addition, a sample of 201 non-employed persons was surveyed, so that a total of 344 non-employed persons could be interviewed. The survey was conducted online and by telephone and is representative in terms of age, gender, education and language region. The survey took place from September 15 to October 8, 2025.