Across all countries of origin, people migrated to Switzerland mainly for professional reasons, and to a lesser extent for family reasons. In fact, a little over half (52%) of the Migration-Mobility Survey participants said they moved to Switzerland for work or to study (whereas 5% indicated both work and family reasons). In total, 41% migrated for family reasons, either to start a family or to join a family member already settled in Switzerland. Only 12% of participants cited solely considerations other than these two reasons as the motive for their migration.

To be more specific, around 73% of German nationals, 72% of Italians,  and 71% of French nationals come to Switzerland for professional or educational purposes. In contrast, these reasons motivated only 34% of people from the Balkan countries.

On the other hand, migration for family reasons is cited by a majority of arrivals from Balkan states (64%) and South America (57%), whereas this is more rarely the case for nationals of EU countries.

A clear gender difference can be seen, with 59% of women citing family reasons as the motive (or one of the motives) for their migration, compared to only 26% of the men. Conversely, men are more likely to migrate for professional reasons (66% vs. 38% of women). Migration for professional reasons is also more common among highly qualified migrants (65% compared to 32% of those who do not hold a tertiary educational qualification).

For what administrative reason are migrants admitted in Switzerland?

Source: Migration-Mobility Survey 2022, nccr – on the move

Note on methodology: These figures are taken from the Migration-Mobility Survey, conducted in fall 2022 on a population of persons born abroad and with foreign citizenship who have moved to Switzerland in the last 16 years. To be included in the sample population, respondents had to be between 24 and 64 years of age at the time of the survey, and at least 18 years of age on their arrival in Switzerland. 7,206 people replied to the full questionnaire, either online or by telephone.

The question asked: Why did you migrate to Switzerland?

– Professional reasons
– Educational and/or study reasons
– To start a family
– To accompany family
– To follow one’s partner
– Lifestyle reasons
– Gain new experiences
– Social network in Switzerland
– Tax reasons
– Political reasons
– Health reasons
– Other reasons

Respondents were allowed to give positive replies for any of the above. We then reconstituted the following categories:

– Professional and/or educational reasons
– Family reasons (includes those giving positive responses to the questions on “starting a family” and/or “to accompany family members”)
– Other reasons (positive reply to one or more of the other questions)

Terms of use: The Migration-Mobility Indicators are made available free of charge for non-commercial use. We ask the users to acknowledge the source.

Suggested citation: nccr – on the move, Migration-Mobility Indicators. Neuchâtel: nccr – on the move, 2023.

For more information about the data sets used, please click here.

Last update: 3 July 2023