Universum Communications Switzerland AG
Universum Swiss Study offer insights from the largest survey capturing trends shaping Switzerland's talent landscape and their most attractive Employers.
Zurich, Switzerland (ots)
Universum, the world's leading provider of talent research and employer branding expertise, is excited to share the latest findings from the largest Talent Survey in Switzerland. Conducted meticulously, the 2025 survey offers unprecedented insights into the preferences and aspirations of Swiss students, providing invaluable guidance for employers seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition and retention.
The survey, compiled with the latest data from the Federal Statistical Office, presents a comprehensive view of the Swiss youth landscape. Major shifts in career preferences and employer attractiveness have been identified, signaling the need for tailored strategies to engage with the future workforce effectively.
Key Highlights:
Siemens takes over Google among engineering students:
For the first time ever, Siemens has claimed the #1 spot among Engineering students in
Switzerland surpassing even tech giant Google.
What is driving this shift? It's all about career growth. Siemens stands out for offering
exceptional career advancement opportunities-one of the top 3 priorities for young talent
today.
But that's not all. When students think of Siemens, one word rises above the rest: Innovation. The brand significantly outperforms the average in being associated with cutting-edge ideas and future-driven work.
Engineering talent in Switzerland is making a clear statement: they want innovation, growth, and a future they can shape-Siemens delivers.
Rise of the Banking Sector for both business and IT students:
UBS holds their #1 spot among business students, further growing the percentage of students who select them as an ideal employer and widening the gap to number 2 in the rankings with an almost 10% difference.
What's behind UBS's winning streak? Alignment. Four out of the five qualities students value most in an employer are also among the top five associations with UBS-making it the perfect match for ambitious young talent. A strong growth of interest in the banking sector is also visible among IT-Students. UBS is climbing up to the top 3 in the IT rankings for the first time. Google (1) and Microsoft (2) are still in front of them, being on top of the IT rankings. The second bank in the IT student ranking is Bank Julius Baer, ranking 17th jumping up another 4 ranks further capturing the interest of IT students with interesting career opportunities and innovative initiatives.
Quote from Head of Group Human Resources and Corporate Services at UBS:
"We are proud and honored to have been recognized by business students as the most attractive employer in Switzerland," says Stefan Seiler, Head Group Human Resources and Corporate Services at UBS. "This recognition highlights our commitment to offering our employees development opportunities within a global company deeply rooted in Switzerland - in an environment that reflects our strong role as a reliable partner to the Swiss economy."
Rise of Aerospace and Defense Sector among engineering students:
Rheinmetall made significant strides in the engineering ranking, jumping 17 positions and reaching rank 11 closely followed by Ruag ranking 12 among engineering students. The rise of the attractiveness of the defense sector is also visible globally and specifically in countries like Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The geopolitical situation has increased the awareness of the industry and attracts leading technologies.
Solid Appeal of Audit and Advisory Firms among business students:
Audit, tax, and accounting firms maintain strong appeal, with KPMG recognized for its bold communication efforts and engaging dialogue with campuses and climbing another 4 ranks compared to 2024 after 7 ranks climb from 2023 to 2024.
Challenges in FMCG Sector:
Companies in the FMCG sector continue to face challenges with downward trends except
L´Oréal gained 7 ranks.
AI sentiment and readiness:
AI as a tool is becoming more and more integrated in our daily work. 87% of students in
Switzerland share a positive sentiment towards AI integration and 59% have already actively
developed AI-related skills for their future career.
What remote work offering is needed for graduates in 2025?
Remote work preferences among all Swiss students in all ages and genders stays the same as last year at 2 days per week for working remotely. 2/3 of all students prefer 2 days of remote work or less. If remote work were not offered at all only 6% would look for another job and 40% would prefer it but ready to adjust.
Talent Profile Mismatch
41% of companies are looking for Go-Getters while only 16% of students in Switzerland identify themselves as such. Only 6% of companies are looking for Globe Trotters an Balance Seekers while 24% of Students in Switzerland identify themselves as balance seekers and 14% as GlobeTrotters.
Gender-Based Priorities:
Gender disparities in career priorities are evident, with women and men showing different concerns. Women prioritize job security, employee wellbeing and respect for its people. In contrast, men prioritize career growth, leadership opportunities, competitive salary and benefits as well as market success. Salary expectations gap between male and female students stays fairly similar to 2024 just below 10´000 CHF, where the expectation among female students has increased by 2% and stayed the same among male students.
Universum's comprehensive data empowers employers to design customized talent strategies aligned with evolving expectations. For further details and insights, please reach out to [ tobias.meszaros@universumglobal.com].
Join us in shaping the future of work and unlocking the potential of Swiss talent.
About Universum:
Universum is a global leader in talent research and employer branding expertise, providing organizations with innovative solutions and data-driven insights to attract and retain top talent. With a rich 35-year legacy of excellence, Universum continues to redefine employer branding strategies in Switzerland and around the world.
Contact:
Tobias Meszaros
Universum Communications Switzerland AG
+41775284459
tobias.meszaros@universumglobal.com