Executive Summary

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) published its monitoring report on the job posting notification requirement for 2025 on July 6, 2026. The number of reported positions subject to notification increased from 178,026 (2024) to 206,002 (2025). This increase is explained by rising unemployment since mid-2023, which led to more occupational categories subject to the notification requirement. For the first time since 2022, more occupational categories fell under the notification requirement again. The digital notification and placement processes functioned successfully with short processing times.

Persons

  • SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs; supervisory authority)

Topics

  • Labor market policy
  • Job posting notification requirement
  • Unemployment
  • Job placement

Clarus Lead

The return to rising notification requirement rates signals a structural shift in the Swiss labor market: After years of relaxation (2023–2024), the persistent unemployment rate is now leading to expanded control mechanisms again. For 2026, SECO expects a further increase to 10.8 percent of employed persons in occupational categories subject to notification – an indicator of continued labor market tensions. This has implications for Bilateral III negotiations between Switzerland and the EU, which concern issues of labor mobility and protection of domestic labor markets.

Detailed Summary

The job posting notification requirement stipulates that employers must report open positions in certain occupational categories to public employment services before recruiting internationally. The list of these occupational categories is adjusted annually based on the unemployment rate. In 2021–2022, the list was expanded due to high unemployment; in 2023–2024, it shrank again. The current report shows a reversal: 6.4 percent of employed persons worked in occupational categories subject to notification in 2025 (compared to 3.5% in the previous year).

Regional employment centers (RAV) directly placed 2,369 persons through job proposals within five working days. However, this statistic does not capture independent applications from job seekers via the "Job-Room" platform, where 65–70 percent of the unemployed have been registered since mid-2023. Employers receive candidate suggestions free of charge and direct access to a large pool. The placement success of RAV declined slightly due to the tighter labor market situation, while placement activity remained proportionally stable. For 2026, 10.8 percent of employed persons in occupational categories subject to notification is expected – an increase of 4.4 percentage points.

Key Findings

  • Reported positions subject to notification increased by 15.7 percent in 2025 (206,002 vs. 178,026 in the previous year)
  • First increase since 2022 in occupational categories falling under the notification requirement
  • RAV placed 2,369 persons; independent applications via Job-Room not statistically captured
  • A further increase to 10.8 percent of employed persons in occupational categories subject to notification is expected for 2026

Critical Questions

  1. Data Quality: To what extent is the estimate of reach (based on the share of employed persons in occupational categories subject to notification) robust against classification changes between years?

  2. Completeness of Coverage: The report only captures persons placed by RAV (2,369), not independent applications via Job-Room. How large is the dark figure of successful placements outside RAV statistics?

  3. Causality Unemployment–Occupational Category List: Is the selection of occupational categories subject to notification determined solely by unemployment rates, or do skill shortages play a role? Could both factors come into conflict?

  4. Employer Incentives: What is the compliance rate of employers with the notification requirement? Is there evidence of circumvention strategies (e.g., outsourcing to recruitment agencies)?

  5. Labor Market Effect: Does the notification requirement lead to better chances for job seekers, or does it only direct employer attention to already visible candidates?

  6. Forecast Quality: On what assumptions regarding the unemployment rate is the 2026 projection (10.8%) based? How sensitive is this forecast to economic changes?

Source Directory

Primary Source: SECO Monitoring Report on Job Posting Notification Requirement 2025 – State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, 06.07.2026

Verification Status: ✓ 06.07.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 06.07.2026