Swiss unemployment dips in May

Zurich — Switzerland’s unemployment rate dipped slightly to 3.4 percent of the work force in May from 3.5 percent a month ago, official figures showed on Monday.

The total number of jobless people stood at 135,128 at the end of May, 1,581 fewer than a month ago, according to a statement from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

Swiss authorities expect the unemployment rate to reach 3.7 percent in 2009 due to the economic crisis, sharply up from 2.6 percent in 2008.

Switzerland has so far fared better than the European Union where the unemployment rate came to 8.6 percent in April.

AFP / Expatica