⏱ 1 min 30 read
Background
Geneva employs a large share of workers living outside Switzerland, mainly in neighbouring France. The Cantonal Statistics Office (OCSTAT) publishes the number of foreign cross-border workers employed in the canton every quarter. These figures serve as a barometer of the Geneva labour market. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the increase was limited to 925 people.
The key points
According to OCSTAT, the canton of Geneva had 116 213 foreign cross-border workers in employment at the end of September 2026. There were 115,021 in the first quarter. Adjusted for seasonal variations, the increase reaches 1.2% since January.
Over one year, the canton gained 3,892 foreign cross-border workers, a rise of 3,5 %. Growth is therefore clearly accelerating compared with the previous year. The seasonal adjustment takes account of summer jobs in hotels, restaurants, agriculture and construction, according to Blick.
The rise is also visible across Switzerland: the country had 414,488 foreign cross-border workers at the end of September 2026, compared with 408,893 in the first quarter. Geneva remains the leading canton employing this workforce.
Key figures
- 116 213 : foreign cross-border workers employed in Geneva at end-September 2026 (OCSTAT)
- +3,5 % : year-on-year increase, i.e. 3,892 people
- +1,2 % : rise since January 2026, seasonally adjusted
- 28 % : Geneva's share of foreign cross-border workers in Switzerland, ahead of Ticino (19%) and Vaud (11%)
- 414 488 : foreign cross-border workers in Switzerland at end-September 2026
What it means for businesses
- Geneva employers : recruitment across the border keeps growing and is accelerating year on year.
- Seasonal sectors : hotels, restaurants, agriculture and building sites cause headcounts to vary with the seasons.
Further reading
Sources
- OCSTAT – Cross-border workers (official source)
- Tribune de Genève – The number of cross-border workers keeps rising in Geneva, but at a moderate pace
- Blick – Cross-border workers in Geneva: 116,213 employed, +3.5% in a year
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