Switzerland will be short of 36,000 IT specialists by 2028

In Switzerland, as in the rest of the world, digitalization is gaining momentum. The entire economy is facing an inevitable and rapid digital transformation. Information and communication technologies (IT) have a strong impact on economic activities and especially on the Swiss labour market.

The market is becoming more and more demanding in terms of professional IT skills. Faced with this growing need, Switzerland is likely to face a shortage of IT professionals in the labour force by 2028.


Swiss IT professionals: the shortage

Forecasts for 2028

Currently, Switzerland has nearly 242,600 IT specialists, including approximately:

  • 79,400 web development experts;
  • 31,400 system analysts;
  • 15,000 multimedia design engineers;
  • 15,300 systems engineering specialists.

Forecasts show that by 2028, more than 30,000 specialists will retire and more than 36,000 experts will move abroad.

According to possible structural changes, the ICT sector will create more than 54,300 new jobs. The country will thus need more than 117,900 experts.

Various professional training courses offer recognized federal diplomas. There are many different study paths available to best meet the needs of the sector. However, the number of new graduates by 2028 is still insufficient.

According to statistics, only 38,000 new experts will enter the job market over the next 7 years, far from compensating for the growing job offer.

It is also estimated that around 44,000 IT specialists looking for a brighter professional future will move to Switzerland during the same period. In any case, the supply will still not be able to compensate for this demand for skilled workers if concrete actions are not taken.

The anticipation of companies to train future IT specialists

In an attempt to reverse the trend, many companies are investing considerable sums in the implementation of training programs. These programs are mainly aimed at optimizing and reinforcing the technical resources in terms of IT in order to face this possible shortage.

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The idea is to foster a learning environment adapted to the current and future economy. Companies are training tomorrow’s successors now so that they do not have to face a shortage of qualified personnel. Having the right skills for the sector is a real advantage over the competition.

The objective of this preventive action is also to build a much more versatile team that is able to cope with market changes.

The future computer specialists will receive professional training in the development and integration of software packages, management and maintenance of computer systems, etc.

At the same time, other companies are turning to the IT services market in order to take advantage of this future shortage of IT specialists. They will be able to offer outsourced IT services from abroad and with foreign workers.


Ways to solve this shortage?

The number of IT employees in Switzerland is growing four times faster than average

The IT sector is one of the most promising in French-speaking Switzerland. The annual recruitment rate in the private sector is increasing. This increase in job offers represents an excellent opportunity for young professionals and budding IT specialists.

Switzerland offers an ideal environment for specialists who wish to build their career in the field of ICT and IT.

Today, IT employs more than 242,600 specialists, which is 4 times more than the average in other sectors.

This market offers particularly interesting job prospects, especially in the long term. An IT specialist can be integrated into almost all economic sectors, in addition to the various IT branches in IT service companies.

The strong growth in the number of employees moving into IT can be seen as a solution to the talent shortage in this field. The growth of the sector can also encourage young people to get a job in IT professions: IT project manager, web and application development specialist, maintenance technician, etc.


Many foreigners work in IT in Switzerland

Talent immigration is also a possible solution to the potential shortage in the IT sector. According to current figures, the immigration rate for IT talent is 12%, compared to 7% for other sectors. If this rate of growth remains constant over the next few years, Switzerland will only be short of 14,000 IT specialists.
More and more foreigners are choosing Switzerland as a place to grow in the IT world. However, immigration depends more on legislation and policies than on the shortage of IT specialists.


Swiss computer scientist: a well-paid profession

Salary above the national average

In Switzerland, IT specialists are among the best paid professions in the country, after banking, insurance and biotech. After some years of experience, a lower-level executive working in IT can earn more than CHF 130,000 CHF per year.

For the majority of IT positions, the gross salary is 3% higher than the national average. Some cantons also offer much higher salaries, such as Geneva, Zurich and Basel.


Top 5 best paid IT jobs in Switzerland

Among the best paid IT jobs in Switzerland, some positions stand out:

  • An experienced IT architect earns a salary of CHF 11,457 per month for a senior level and CHF 6,892 for a young person without experience;
  • A senior IT consultant is paid up to 10 556 CHF per month, compared to 5 781 CHF for a beginner;
  • An experienced IT project manager earns CHF 10,462 per month, compared to CHF 5,519 for a junior;
  • A senior Business Analyst can earn up to CHF 10,231 per month, compared to CHF 5,062 for a junior;
  • A senior Data Scientist’s monthly salary is CHF 10,019, compared to CHF 5,917 for a junior graduate.
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ITTA is the leader in IT training and project management solutions and services in French-speaking Switzerland.

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