Switzerland is no longer as attractive to expats as it used to be
What do you like about Switzerland? "Nature," expats usually answer, also "standard of living, excellent healthcare system," and "the ability of the Swiss to seize any opportunity to have a drink in warm company." These are the advantages. But what then are the disadvantages that have caused Switzerland to lose so much appeal in the eyes of foreign professionals working and living there?
The disadvantages are as follows: the Swiss German dialect, which the Swiss prefer to use among themselves, cutting off everyone who does not understand it; the high cost of after-school childcare; and the unfriendliness of locals. All this is well known, but according to the new survey, these factors have particularly "gotten to" expats this year.
As Swissinfo.ch notes, a total of more than 18,000 people working abroad took part in the survey by the international social network for expats InterNations. The Confederation ranked 44th out of 68 in the overall standings – and this after 27th place the previous year and 4th in 2014. Only Romania and Sweden dropped more than Switzerland in the eyes of expats compared to last year.
About one-fifth of respondents are dissatisfied with their jobs, and 26% also see only limited opportunities for career growth in Switzerland. Switzerland showed one of its worst results in the "family life" category: 61% of expats were dissatisfied with how the country's childcare system (nurseries, kindergartens, etc.) is organized, and 74% consider it too expensive.
Emigrants still find it difficult to adapt to Switzerland. In this category, the country ranks 65th, ahead of Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. About 62% find it hard to make friends among locals (worldwide, an average of 36% of expats report this problem). They generally perceive the Swiss as unfriendly and reserved. "They are very taciturn and hardly look you in the eye during conversation," says a respondent from Singapore.
The most popular country among expats is considered to be Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, ahead of Taiwan and Ecuador. It is reported that Bahrainis are friendly, and one can easily get by with just English in daily life. Remarkably, four of the ten most popular countries are in Latin America.
For the first time, at the very bottom of the list among the 10 "worst" countries is the United Kingdom (59th place): many expats are dissatisfied with the approaching Brexit. The most disliked countries by expats are Kuwait (66th), Saudi Arabia (67th), and India (68th).
And where do the Swiss themselves go, since the so-called "fifth Switzerland" numbers 751,800 people? Most of them, specifically 196,300 people, live in France, Germany (88,600), and Italy (49,600). Almost half of InterNations respondents can even imagine moving abroad permanently. The main thing is to be happy, and that is also very Swiss!
Thomas Stephens.
Translation by Nadezhda Kapone.