More Non-Swiss Residents Stay Put, Causing Global Population in Switzerland to Expand
Scoop on Switzerland's Immigration Numbers for 2024
latest reports from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), published on February 20th, shed light on the changes in Switzerland's immigration profile.
The stats show that the inflow of foreign permanent residents decreased by 15.6% compared to the previous year, with 83,392 newcomers in 2024.
Eu and EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) nationals accounted for a substantial 67% of the 2,368,364 resident foreigners at year's end, with Germans and Italians leading the charge.
Fewer New Arrivals
The latest net migration, standing at 83,392 people, represents a 8.7% drop compared to 2023's count of 98,851. Work-oriented migrants, or "active persons," saw a 9.003-person decline compared to the previous year.
The SEM attributes this reduction to a slowing labor market and a slight drop in immigrants seeking employment opportunities. Despite this downturn, the labor shortage continues to loom large in most sectors.
Growing Resident Foreign Population
While immigration numbers dwindled, resident foreigners continued to increase. French, Afghans, and Germans made up the top three spots in net residential growth.
Conversely, the British and Serbians experienced a fall in numbers. In terms of permits, 69% of short-term L authorisations and 79% of B permits were utilized by the year's end.
Immigration Drivers
Family reunification remains the primary reason for migration from outside the EU/EFTA, according to SEM's data.
The numbers also indicate a decrease in naturalization applications, with 40,291 new Swiss citizens in 2024—a 2.4% drop from the previous year.
Insights
As of December 2024, various factors have contributed to altering immigration patterns in Switzerland. While specific data on employment-based immigration isn't provided, general trends suggest:
- Higher departure rates of foreign residents, with 50 departures for every 100 immigrants in 2024[1].
- A fall in overall population growth amid declining immigration numbers[3].
- Influential factors such as career opportunities, education, and family connections shaping both emigration and immigration decisions[5].
Additional analysis from Swiss authorities or more detailed immigration statistics would provide a clearer understanding of the specific reasons for reduced employment-based immigration and net immigration.
Further Reading:
- why Switzerland doesn't issue work permits for all non-EU nationals
- why so few Brits are taking up work permits in Switzerland?
- What happens to foreigners in Zurich, Geneva, and Vaud when they become Swiss?
[1] Foreigner Departures Increase Dramatically in 2024https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreigners-departures-increase-dramatically-in-2024/47198508
[3] Switzerland Population Growth Slows Despite Falling Immigrationhttps://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland-population-growth-slows-despite-falling-immigration/47198511
[5] Career Opportunities, Education, and Family Ties Drive Migration Decisionshttps://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/career-opportunities-education-and-family-ties-drive-migration-decisions/47198523
- In 2024, the decreased inflow of foreign permanent residents, amounting to 83,392 newcomers, resulted in a 8.7% drop compared to the previous year's count, essentially showing fewer new arrivals.
- Among the resident foreign population, Eu and EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) nationals, Germans, and Italians comprised the majority, with a total of 2,368,364 resident foreigners at the year's end.
- Despite the decreased immigration numbers, the labor shortage remains a significant issue in most sectors, indicating that consolidation in the labor market may be occurring.
- The SEM's data reveals that family reunification is the primary reason for migration from outside the EU/EFTA, and there was a 2.4% drop in naturalization applications, with 40,291 new Swiss citizens in 2024.
