As Switzerland's third largest city, Basel is also one of the country's most attractive destinations for expatriates. Located in the northwest of the Swiss Confederation, close to Germany and France, Basel offers a wide range of professional opportunities. Over the years, it has attracted thousands of expatriates from the European Union and other countries.
Basel's economy
Basel, the capital of the canton of the same name, is the third most populous city in Switzerland, with over 173,000 inhabitants.
According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (SFSO), 38.1% of the city's residents are foreign: 22.5% are from the European Union (EU), and 15.6% are from outside the EU.
According to city statistics, the unemployment rate in Basel is around 3%.
Basel is known as one of Switzerland's most dynamic and prosperous regions. Its economy is based on several sectors, including the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, biochemistry, financial services and insurance, logistics, trade, distribution, and information and communication technologies.
According to the FSO, the secondary sector accounts for 17.6% of jobs in Basel, while the tertiary sector accounts for 82.4%. The share of the primary sector is negligible.
Life sciences
This is Basel's most important economic sector, accounting for around 10% of the city's workforce. More than 25,000 jobs have been created by companies in this sector. The Basel region is sometimes referred to as "Bio Valley".
This sector includes pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical technology.
The canton's two best-known life sciences companies are Roche and Novartis. Other companies include Lonza Group, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Basilea Pharmaceuticals, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, and BioVersys, to name but a few.
Agrochemicals also play an important economic role in the canton of Basel. This includes the development and manufacture of innovative agricultural chemicals.
In this field, for example, you'll find Syngenta, one of the world's leading players in the field of crop protection products. BASF Agricultural Solutions also invests heavily in the research and development of new solutions to meet the challenges of modern agriculture.
Financial services and insurance
Basel is home to some fifteen banks and several insurance companies.
The city is home to the headquarters or subsidiaries of several major Swiss banks, including UBS and Credit Suisse, the latter of which was acquired by UBS in 2023. These banks offer a wide range of banking and financial services to an international clientele.
Basel is also home to many renowned insurance companies, such as Baloise Group and Swiss Re. They produce insurance products such as life and health insurance, property and business insurance, and risk and capital solutions.
Commercial services and specialized activities
This sector is equally dynamic and diversified. According to the city's statistics, it accounts for 11% of total nominal value added.
In Basel, you'll find a wide range of services to support companies in their business operations and growth. These include professional services such as management consulting, law, logistics, marketing and communications.
Although not specifically Swiss, the following companies, for example, specialize in auditing services, tax consultancy and management consulting for companies: KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), Deloitte, Accenture, etc.
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
This sector also plays an important role in Basel's economy, contributing to its overall dynamism.
For example, Basel is home to numerous startups and companies specializing in the development of software, platforms and applications.
Among many others, Veezoo offers artificial intelligence solutions for data analysis and visualization, particularly in business data analysis.
Beekeeper provides a secure internal communications platform for businesses.
Another example is BSI Business Systems Integration AG, a company that specializes in developing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and solutions for various sectors.
Events and tourism
Tourism and events also play an important role in Basel.
The city is renowned not only for its cultural wealth and tourist attractions but also for hosting major events such as the jewelry and watch fair, the Basel Carnival, and the largest contemporary art fair in Europe.
International trade fairs and conferences are also regularly held in the city.
Labor shortage in Basel
Switzerland has a highly qualified workforce. However, certain sectors, in particular, are suffering from a skills shortage — making it easier for you to enter the Basel job market if you are a professional in one of these sectors.
According to the Federal Office of Economics and Labor, people with a scientific background and technicians are particularly in demand in the Basel region.
For instance, the city needs more doctors, nurses and midwives.
Basel also needs academic professionals in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
ICT professionals are also in demand, as are technical engineering specialists and similar professionals.
You can also try your luck in the following sectors, which are also quite promising: chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biochemistry, medical technology, trade and logistics, and financial services.
Finding a job in Basel
The Regional Employment Office
If you are already a resident of the city, you can contact the local Regional Employment Office (REO). It will help you access job offers and provide you with advice on your job search.
If you're looking for a job in Basel, you'll need to register in person at the regional employment office with your ID, residence permit, and proof of address.
Needless to say, you won't be able to register if you're not yet resident in the city and are looking for work from another country. However, this does not prevent you from accessing the Job-Room platform, which works in collaboration with employment agencies.
If you prefer to job hunt while already settled in Switzerland, you should know that, as an EU/EFTA national, you can do so for a period of 6 months.
EURES advisors
EURES, which stands for European Employment Services, is an official service provided by the European Union for people seeking employment in this area. You can contact the EURES advisors in your country of origin or target country for information and advice on how to find a job in Basel.
Your national employment agency
Don't forget that your home country's national employment agency usually includes an international department. It usually has a section for international jobseekers where you'll find services such as job search advice, webinars, information on working abroad and job ads.
Classified ads on various job platforms
Today, job openings can be found on a variety of online platforms. An effective strategy can be to select a few generalist platforms and others specialized in your professional sector.
General job search platforms include JobScout24, Indeed Basel and Jobup Basel.
For websites specializing in a particular professional sector, consult Welcome Suisse, a platform that offers resources based on your field of activity. These fields include healthcare, watchmaking, catering, etc.
Private employment agencies
There are a number of these in Basel, and they're easy to find on the Internet: Manpower, Hays Basel, Careerplus Basel, Adecco Basel, etc.
As with online platforms, try to select a few general and specialized agencies, depending on your field.
Newspaper ads
It may sound a little old-fashioned, but in Switzerland, many job offers still appear in the special supplements of the major daily newspapers, for example, the "Stellefant" in the Basler Zeitung for the city of Basel.
Professional social networks
Xing is a professional social network comparable to LinkedIn, focusing on job search and networking. It's particularly popular in German-speaking countries, so you may find it useful for your job search in Basel. Remember that the dominant language in the city is German.
If you're not fluent in German, you can still register on the platform, as there is an English interface. You can use it to consult job offers and make contacts.
Creating and cultivating a network is much more than adding contacts to your list. So do not hesitate to interact on specific issues, comment on the posts of professionals in your field, pose as an expert to get yourself noticed by recruiters, and create genuine links with your contacts.
Consolidate your German language skills
Given Basel's location on the Swiss and European map, it's important to master German if you want to work and integrate into the city.
As mentioned above, Basel is part of German-speaking Switzerland. According to SFSO statistics, German is spoken by over 76% of the population, while French and Italian account for 6% and 5%, respectively.
Otherwise, a good level of English is required to maximize your chances of finding a job here. So don't forget to sign up for language courses.
What are the conditions for working in Basel as a foreigner?
If you are a citizen of the European Union (EU)/European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
If you are going to work for more than 3 months, you will need to apply for a residence permit from the commune where you live in Switzerland to be granted the right to work.
Non-EU/EFTA nationals
In principle, only qualified foreign nationals are allowed to work in Switzerland. These include executives, specialists and university graduates.
A work permit is required, even for short-term employment. However, the number of permits issued by authorities is subject to a quota.
Your future employer will take care of the formalities involved in obtaining a work permit. In particular, they will have to prove that they have been unable to recruit suitable staff in the Swiss or EU/EFTA markets.
For full details on how to qualify for a work permit as a non-EU/EFTA national in Switzerland, have a look at the State Secretariat for Migration website.
Cross-border workers in Basel
According to the city's statistics, there are 35,000 cross-border commuters in Basel. 46.4% come from Germany, and 52.5% are French workers. The nearest point in France is less than 30 minutes from Basel.
To qualify as a cross-border worker, you only need to obtain an employment contract in Switzerland and live in the European Union. Your employer applies for a cross-border work permit (G Permit).
How to apply for a job in Basel
In Switzerland, as in many other countries, the job application includes a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and copies of diplomas and work certificates.
The cover letter should preferably be one or two pages in A4 format. Some employers prefer it typed. In this letter, you should emphasize the reasons why your skills will enable you to carry out the tasks of the position. End the letter by suggesting an interview.
The curriculum vitae should preferably not exceed two A4 pages and should contain the usual information such as your contact details, skills, educational background, and, of course, professional experience.
In Switzerland, diplomas and work certificates are very important, so make sure to indicate which Swiss certificate or equivalent of study your diplomas correspond to. In any case, include this question in your oral interview.
You should carefully consider your career path. Specify the different positions you have held within a company.
Finally, remember to personalize each cover letter and CV, which should ideally be adapted to suit your interviewer.
Don't forget unsolicited applications, even if they may seem less effective because they don't correspond to a specific position. An unsolicited application shows your particular desire to join a particular company. So don't send the same standard letter, but show why you're specifically interested in this company and what your added value would be.
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