Gallup study: Swiss employees rate labor market more positively again
Employees in Switzerland are somewhat more confident about the job market again, but remain relatively unattached to their employer. This is shown by the new Gallup study «State of the Global Workplace 2026», in which Switzerland is close to the bottom of the European league table for several key figures.
The «Gallup State of the Global Workplace» is a widely cited barometer for the state of mind in the world of work. For the recently published 2026 edition, a total of 141,444 employees were surveyed by telephone or in person in 149 countries, of which 48,897 interviews were conducted in Europe (38 countries) and 3086 in the DACH region. The interviewees were selected at random. The results are representative of the workforce in the respective country.
Labor market more positive again
In Switzerland, 58% of employees say that it is currently a good time to find a job. This is slightly above the European average of 57%, but significantly below the DACH region at 66%. Compared to the previous year, the assessment in Switzerland has risen by three percentage points. Gallup sees this as a sign of cautious optimism on the labor market. This subdued optimism correlates with the latest labor market figures from SECO: the number of unemployed fell by 4821 (-3.2 %) to 146,255 in March 2026 compared to the previous month. Compared to the same month last year, however, unemployment increased by 13,686 (+10.3%). In contrast, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 3.1% in March 2026 compared to the previous month.
Low loyalty to the employer
Emotional loyalty to the employer is significantly weaker: Only 8 percent of employees in Switzerland are highly committed, according to Gallup. This is one of the lowest values in Europe; together with France, Switzerland is in second-last place, while Europe as a whole comes in at 12 percent. 85 percent feel only slightly committed and carry out their work dutifully without making any further significant contribution. The proportion of employees without any emotional attachment is also low at 8%.
Well-being with light and shade
In terms of general well-being, Switzerland is also below the European average, albeit not dramatically: 46% rate their current life and their future positively, compared to 49% in Europe. At the same time, the daily stress level in Switzerland has risen to 34%, but remains below the European figure of 39%. In addition, 19 percent reported sadness, 14 percent anger and 15 percent loneliness on the day before the survey. In a European comparison, Switzerland is therefore in the middle to lower range.
FüGuidance as a lever
Gallup emphasizes that high emotional attachment is closely linked to good leadership and has a positive effect on satisfaction, stress and motivation. According to a meta-analysis also conducted by Gallup in 2024, highly engaged employees are, among other things, less absent, more willing to quit and more productive. The message for companies in Switzerland is therefore clear: the labor market may be recovering, but without stronger loyalty, potential remains untapped. «If you want to attract and retain talent, you need to focus more on leadership, clarity and development opportunities. For employers, this increases the need to provide guidance, build trust and create a working environment that fosters genuine loyalty. For CEOs, this is not a soft cultural issue, but a hard leadership and performance issue,» says Diana Sonnenberg, Principal at Gallup.
Source: Gallup
