In a recent disclosure, Switzerland is reported to have a higher number of cross-border workers compared to previous records.
Revised Article:
Dang, lookie here! The numbers for the first quarter of 2025? Over 400,000 workers in Switzerland, who are known as G-permit holders, were grindin' it out by the end of March, according to a report from the Federal Statistical Office, dropped May 6th. That's a whopping 62,000 more than in the same timeframe back in 2020.
Now, who are these cats, and where they stompin'? More than half of this border-hoppin' workforce - a hefty 57.8% - hail from France, slangin' their skills mainly in Geneva, but also chippin' in Vaud. They're also managin' to hold down jobs in two other border cantons - Neuchâtel and Jura.
As for the numbers, 114,700 foreign cross-border workers were straight hustlin' in Geneva by the end of March.
A different set of stats, dropped by Geneva's Cantonal Statistical Office back in January 2025, tells us that the canton welcomed a record-breakin' 24,835 new French cross-border commuters by year's end. Mind-blowin', cuz that's a figure we ain't seen since the canton started keepin' tabs in 1989.
The majority of these French cats are commuterin' from the two French regions closest to Geneva - Haute Savoie and Ain – and grindin' it out in sectors like restaurants, healthcare, retail, and construction.
Wanna know something else? How much more dough these France-based cross-border workers bring home? Check out our read-up on it.
As for other nationalities? The next largest group of cross-border commuters (22.7%) are Italians, slangin' their skills mostly in Ticino, with smaller numbers holdin' it down in Valais and Graubünden - the three cantons that share a border with Italy.
Next up (rat race-wise) are Germans, pocketin' 16.3% of the cross-border worker crown, who commute mostly to Basel, and other cantons of northern Switzerland adjacent to Germany.
Now, about them salaries... While cross-border workers from France, Italy, and Germany in Switzerland tend to rake in similar coin to domestic workers, differences in taxes and the cost of livin' can affect their cold hard cash.
Here's the lowdown: Cross-border workers usually earn the same base salary as domestic employees in Switzerland, cuz they're often paid in Swiss francs (CHF), based on the job requirements and location. But there are some differences in how they're taxed and the cost of livin' in their home countries.
On average, the Swiss salary game is heated, with an average monthly paycheck clockin' in at roughly €8,104, according to the OECD[4]. That converts to approximately 9,000 CHF per month, but the exchange rate plays a role.
Salaries can vary significantly depending on the industry, location (canton), and job type. For instance, pros in finance and tech tend to bring home more loot than their peers in other sectors[1].
As for the cross-border workers, they usually take home the same base salary as domestic employees in Switzerland, but they face different tax rules depending on their country of residence, which can impact their net income[5].
Just to name a few, France collects most taxes, with a potential Swiss withholding tax of 0% in most cantons, except Geneva, where it's 4.5%. Italy buggs out new cross-border workers with double taxation, but provides a tax credit for Swiss taxes paid. Germany applies a fixed Swiss withholding tax of 4.5%, but all income is fully taxed in Germany, with the withholding tax weighed against German income tax[5].
While salaries may be consistent across nationalities, regional variations within Switzerland can be substantial. For example, salaries in big cities like Zurich and Geneva can be higher than in smaller towns or rural areas due to higher costs of livin'.
In short, while cross-border workers from France, Italy, and Germany in Switzerland bring home similar scraps to domestic workers, differences in taxes and livin' costs can impact their final paycheck and overall financial stability. #WisdomOfTheInternet 🤯🤯🤯💪💪💪🤘🎉💪🤘🎉🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏👏🤘🤘🤘✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨🎈🎈🎈🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈🎈🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
- In 2025, the number of G-permit holders working in Switzerland increased significantly, with half of them coming from France, particularly concentrated in Geneva and Vaud.
- The reports from Geneva's Cantonal Statistical Office show that in 2025, Geneva welcomed a record-breaking 24,835 new French cross-border commuters.
- By the end of 2025, there were 114,700 foreign cross-border workers hustling in Geneva, with the finance and tech industries offering higher salaries.
- Cross-border workers from France, Italy, and Germany in Switzerland tend to earn similar base salaries to domestic workers, but differences in taxes and the cost of living can impact their net income.
