Switzerland slightly less attractive to EU citizens

Salary competition exists

The observatory acknowledges that competition resulting from the presence of EU workers has become more intense for local workers in certain Swiss border areas and in certain sectors of the economy. In the parts of Switzerland close to Northern Italy, and in Basel and Geneva, notably due to the appreciation of the Swiss franc against the euro, Switzerland's attraction as a workplace has grown for persons living in EU border areas. In Italian-speaking Tessin, and in Basel and Geneva, cross-border commuters amount to one fourth of the workforce. As a general rule, however, high levels of immigration by EU workers have slowed the ageing of the population and thus eased the Swiss social insurance burden. Only unemployment insurance has had to deal with additional costs. On the whole, EU nationals contributed 25% and received 31% of benefits.