Swiss SMEs drive growth in AI jobs

Nearly 5,000 AI vacancies appeared in Switzerland in one year, giving the country’s employment market a clear signal about where investment is moving. Employers advertised just under 5,000 roles between July 2025 and June 2026, 32% more than in the previous year, according to a study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, or HSLU.

The expansion reaches well beyond the country’s large technology groups. Small and medium-sized enterprises generated 76% of the growth in AI vacancies, as companies brought machine learning, automation and data tools into established operations and services.

Curdin Derungs, the study’s author, said AI was increasingly being integrated into the processes and services of established SMEs. That shift matters in Switzerland, where smaller firms form a large part of the economic landscape and operate across manufacturing, finance, health, engineering and business services.

The figures describe demand for people who can build and implement AI systems. They also show that employers are hiring across sectors rather than concentrating recruitment in a handful of technology companies. The opportunity is spreading through the economy, although access to those roles remains uneven.

IT employers posted 1,211 AI vacancies, a 49% annual increase, but the demand reached into some of Switzerland’s most established industries. Banks and insurers including Axa, Julius Bär and the Swiss National Bank sought AI specialists alongside technology companies.

Pharmaceutical firms Roche, Novartis and Lonza also featured among the employers recruiting for AI-related work. In engineering, Siemens, Hitachi Energy and ABB ranked among the leading employers. The spread reflects how Swiss companies are applying AI to research, industrial systems, financial analysis and internal operations.

The public sector recorded the fastest growth, with vacancies rising 67%. The Canton and City of Zurich and the Federal Office of Public Health were among the largest public employers named in the study. Derungs linked that expansion to stronger confidence among policymakers and authorities in AI as a future technology.

For workers, the market offers routes into AI through sector expertise as well as through traditional software development. A specialist who understands banking compliance, pharmaceutical research or industrial controls may find demand for skills that combine professional knowledge with data and AI capabilities.

Zurich held 2,181 AI vacancies, or 45% of the national total, placing the canton well ahead of other Swiss regions. Geneva followed with around 620 roles, while Bern recorded around 590.

The distribution reinforces Zurich’s position as the country’s main centre for technology, finance and corporate services. Its concentration of employers gives candidates access to a broad range of positions, from software and data roles to AI applications in banking, insurance and public administration.

Geneva’s market reflects its international economy and the presence of financial, diplomatic and institutional employers. Bern brings together federal administration, universities and technology companies, creating its own base of demand.

The study’s regional figures also show why national employment trends can feel different from one canton to another. A candidate in Zurich encounters a larger pool of openings, while applicants elsewhere may need to target specific industries or consider relocation. Switzerland’s language regions, commuting patterns and cantonal labour markets will shape how widely the new roles are shared.

Only 5% of the vacancies were permanent junior roles, leaving graduates and people entering the field with limited access to the fastest-growing part of the market. The study found that vacancies for experienced specialists rose 42%.

Even roles described as entry level often required two to three years of professional experience. University graduates interviewed for the study reported months-long job searches and dozens of unsuccessful applications. Derungs said new entrants viewed the market as extremely competitive, and he also observed growing difficulties for experienced professionals.

The gap between demand and access creates a practical challenge for employers. Companies may want people who can deploy AI systems immediately, while candidates need a first opportunity to build the experience those postings request. For Swiss universities, vocational programmes and employers, that pressure points to the value of internships, trainee tracks and supervised projects tied to real business needs.

The HSLU findings do not establish whether the shortage will persist or how many jobs will change as AI tools mature. They do show that vacancy growth alone does not guarantee an easy entry into the field.

Switzerland’s AI labour market is expanding through smaller firms, public authorities and traditional industries, giving the trend a broader economic footprint than a technology sector hiring cycle. The near-term test will be whether companies create enough pathways for people without long professional histories in AI.

SMEs now account for most of the increase in vacancies. Their hiring choices will influence how AI affects workplaces outside Zurich’s largest employers and whether expertise reaches manufacturing towns, regional service centres and public institutions across the country.

The public sector’s 67% growth adds another dimension. Canton and city administrations and the Federal Office of Public Health are recruiting as they assess how AI can support public services. Those roles will require technical capability alongside careful handling of public data and institutional responsibilities.

For jobseekers, the market rewards a combination of AI knowledge and an understanding of a specific field. For employers, the figures make a case for developing talent as well as searching for finished specialists. Switzerland’s next phase of AI recruitment will be measured not only by vacancy totals, but by who can move into those jobs.