Swiss employers warn of falling apprentice skills as one in five firms cuts intake

Widespread deficits in writing and mathematics

A survey of over 2,900 training managers conducted jointly by Economiesuisse, the Swiss Trade Association, and the Swiss Employers Association shows declining basic competencies among school leavers entering vocational apprenticeships. Writing competencies received the most critical evaluation, with 59% of surveyed companies rating apprentice writing skills as insufficient or unmet, and more than two-thirds identifying deficits in spelling and grammar. Mathematics abilities also showed widespread shortfalls, with 42% of employers rating trainee math skills negatively against 38% positive ratings, pointing to difficulties in handling units of measurement and assessing the plausibility of calculations. Reading performance was rated relatively higher, with over half of employers evaluating reading skills as good or fairly good, though trainees struggled to understand longer texts and extract relevant information. The survey revealed consistent deficits across Switzerland, with minimal differences recorded between German-speaking cantons, French-speaking Romandy, and Italian-speaking Ticino.

We must be careful that educational competencies do not fall further.

Rising tutoring costs and workload for employers

Employer federations reported that the skills drop represents an ongoing long-term trend rather than a short-term issue. Around 50% of surveyed enterprises observed this decline over the past five years, a further 25% tracked it over roughly ten years, and only a small minority perceived it starting in the last two or three years. To compensate for academic gaps, about three-quarters of Swiss companies now provide additional internal or external remedial measures for their apprentices. This extra training creates substantial operational demands, with a majority of businesses spending up to three hours per week per struggling trainee.

Only two percent of the surveyed companies record no additional time expenditure.

Two-thirds of surveyed enterprises reported incurring financial expenses from these remedial measures, with 19% spending between 500 and 2,000 Swiss francs per apprentice each year. In addition to core scholastic subjects, companies noted deficiencies in personal and methodological competencies, including self-organisation, motivation, perseverance, critical thinking, and problem-solving, whereas digital competencies remained significantly stronger.

Strain on the dual vocational training system

The increased instructional workload and financial burden have led 20% of surveyed enterprises to state that they already recruit fewer apprentices or intend to hire fewer in the future. Many companies respond to inadequate applicant pools by tightening their selection standards or leaving apprenticeship positions vacant. The mechanical and electrical engineering SME association Swissmechanic, whose member firms train nearly 6,000 apprentices, reported that more than half of its enterprises find recruitment rather difficult, and almost 20% find it very difficult, while only 20% find recruiting rather easy. Swissmechanic identified insufficient school performance, unsuitable candidate profiles, and an increasing drift of qualified youths toward academic paths as primary drivers.

It is not the task of companies to promote basic skills.

The business federations warned that without educational adjustments, the supply of available apprenticeship spots will decrease, weakening the Swiss dual vocational training framework. Economiesuisse chief economist Rudolf Minsch noted at a media conference on Tuesday that comprehensive evidence on root causes remains scarce, despite hypotheses pointing to school curriculum changes or the pandemic. The associations called for compulsory primary and secondary schools to restore reading, writing, and mathematics as their central educational focus.