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Expatriates In Switzerland: A Cosmopolitan Country With Low Unemployment.

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Switzerland is a country with many peculiarities. It has 5 natural borders: to the north with Germanyto the west with Franceto the south with Italy and to the east with Austria and Liechtenstein. One of its most distinctive features is a diplomacy very marked by the line of neutral foreign policyhas not taken part in any of the international conflict since 1815.

Switzerland hosts the headquarters of several international organisations of paramount importance: the Red Cross, the World Trade Organisation, the Universal Postal Union and one of the two UN offices at Europe. On a sporting level, it is also the centre of such important venues as FIFAthe UEFAand the IOCThe highest body of the Olympic Games.

Switzerland, rather than a country, is defined as a multicultural federation with 26 Autonomous States (the so called cantons) and with the different German, Italian and French communities that coexist within the Swiss Confederation. Proof of this is its linguistic varietyfor Switzerland is a nation multilingual which has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. In addition, its neutral line has made this destination one of the preferred destinations by expatriates of all the nationalitiesresulting in a very cosmopolitan country.

Interestingly, it has become one of the most developed countries in the worlddespite the fact that it has no natural resources. It also enjoys being one of the richest countries in the world; in particular occupies the fourth place worldwide in the classification of GDP per capita.

WORKING IN SWITZERLAND

Something that makes Switzerland a very attractive country for expatriates is that it is home to important multinational corporations worldwide, such as Glencore, Nestlé, Novartis, Hoffmann-La Roche, Adecco and watchmaking groups Swatch y Richemontamong others.

The most active sectors in Switzerland and therefore offer the best job opportunities are: the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the manufacture of musical and measuring instruments, real estate, financial services and tourism.

The Swiss labour market is one of the most flexible and the unemployment ratewhich stands at around 3%, is among the lowest in the world. Europe. The private sector in the Swiss economy This is due to the country's economic policy, which is characterised by the low tax rates. All this makes Switzerland a very attractive country for large corporations.

As for the best job offers for expatriatesthe professionals in the health sector are those with the better opportunities within the Helvetic country: what is most in demand Switzerland on foreign markets are doctors foreigners. The aeronautical sector has also created a high demand for electricians, welders and mechanics.

Despite having a restrictive immigration policywhich limits the number of work permits in circulation, finding work in Switzerland is not as difficult as the way the system works might lead one to believe. One encouraging fact is that the number of foreigners working in Switzerland has been growing steadily over the last decade: Switzerland now has a total of 1.5 million resident foreigners20% of the total population.

For the European expatriates it will be easier to enter the labour market of the country that for others non-EU migrantsSwitzerland is part of the Schengen Treaty since 2005, which facilitates entry, residence and employment from the citizens of the EU at Switzerland. However, since February 2014, this agreement has been subject to a restriction to limit the number of European citizens that cross their borders.

Although at first sight it may seem complicated to access the Swiss working systemIt's worth a try, as Swiss law supports the fact that the foreign workers are entitled to the same working conditions and salaries that the Swiss citizens.

When looking for a job, bear in mind that there are big differences across the world. labour market. Geneva is the area with the highest percentage of foreign workersabout a 50%; and the CITY OF BANKING par excellence is Zurich. Essential, of course, the proficiency in English or GermanThe dominance of both doubles the employment opportunities.

Internetespecially in social media as LinkedInor the temporary employment agencies  (Adecco, Randstad, Michael Page, Swixxlinx...) are the main channels to access to job offers in Switzerlandbut another great alternative, which might be less obvious, is to seek out Spanish companies based in Switzerland. Although most of them belong to the banking sectorare also located in many other sectors such as fashion, pharmaceuticals, steel and energy.

PLACES TO VISIT

The tourism is one of the pillars of the Swiss economy due to its great natural wealth. In addition, we cannot miss the charm of its 3 most important cities: Zurich, Bern and Genevathe lakes Bachalpsee enclose one of the best views of the The Alps. Nor should we fail to visit the Lauterbrunnen valleyor miss the route through the Northern Europe from Jungfraujoc train. And of course, another of the must of tourism are the well-known Heidi's mountains.

These are some of them curiosities about this interesting destination:

  • The mountain tourismtheir watches, chocolates, knives, banks, railways and cheeses are the great hallmarks of the Helvetic country.
  • Despite its neutral and pacifist charactereach Swiss citizen is a potential soldier. Military training begins at age 19, lasts about a year and lasts until age 42 with refresher courses every two years. In addition, every citizen has an assault rifle, cartridges, a knife and a gas chamber in his own home.
  • Although the banking secrecy does not allow us to know the total amount of money held in its institutions, it is estimated that approximately 30% of global private savings is in Switzerland.
  • At Switzerland the salaries are set by agreement as there is no legislation as such on minimum wages. At the end of 2014 it was set by referendum at 2000 euros (2500 francs).

If you want to know more about Switzerlandyou can't miss the Expats podcast byour radio programme on Gestiona Radio's Primera Hora (First Hour).. All Thursdays at 11:40 with Laura López and Jaume Segalés.

What to consider when moving to Switzerland?

Moving to Switzerland involves planning and consideration of various aspects. Before moving to SwitzerlandFor more information, research visa requirements and permits. The choice of housing between renting and buying is crucial, considering the competitive market in cities such as Geneva, Zurich and Bern.

The high cost of living in Switzerland requires financial preparation for food, transport and health expenses. The official languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh, so it's useful to know the predominant language in your chosen region.

Research opportunities for employment before hire removal Madrid. Also investigate the health care system and health insurance options, as it is compulsory. Adapt your lifestyle to the rich culture Switzerland and find out about education options if you have children.

The efficient public transport can outweigh the need for a car. If you require services of removal to SwitzerlandLook for reliable companies. You can also consider furniture storage service Get ready for this exciting experience!

Gil Stauffer has been moving lives from continent to continent for more than 115 years: If you're going to take the ultimate step,  Request a quote for your international removals with the best professionals!

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