Key facts
- The pay gap between high and low earners in Switzerland has increased over the last decade, according to a trade union study.
- Real wages for the top 1% of earners grew by 16.8% between 2016 and 2024.
- The lowest 10% of earners experienced a 0.5% decline in real wages during the same period.
- Wages for the middle group of earners stagnated.
- Women in Switzerland earn less than men on average, with half earning below approximately 5,000 Swiss francs per month in 2024.
The disparity between high and low earners in Switzerland has widened over the past decade, a study by the Swiss federation of trade unions SGB revealed. While top earners have seen their real wages increase, the lowest-paid workers have experienced a decline.
Between 2016 and 2024, the top 1% of earners in Switzerland saw their real wages rise by 16.8%. In contrast, the bottom 10% of earners experienced a 0.5% decrease in real wages during the same period. Workers in the middle, between the top 10% and bottom 10%, saw their wages stagnate.
The study noted that bosses and shareholders have been the primary beneficiaries of high profits and dividends, while some wages have not kept pace with inflation. Furthermore, the report highlighted a persistent gender pay gap, with women in Switzerland earning less than men on average. In 2024, half of women earned less than approximately 5,000 Swiss francs per month, while the equivalent group of men earned at least 2,000 francs more.