Are there not enough foreigners in civil servant roles?

Federal Palace, Bern

It’s widely acknowledged the private sector in Switzerland benefits enormously from foreign workers – but an investigation by the Blick newspaper points out that only 5% of the 43,000 workforce for the federal government are foreign. A figure that hasn’t changed in years.

Business leaders say the “golden cage” of stable jobs and rising salaries makes the federal administration highly attractive for Swiss nationals  - and less so for foreign workers. 

The government cites language requirements and certain Swiss-only roles as reasons for the low diversity, though it insists all jobs are publicly advertised and open to all nationalities.

Integration Commissioner, Natalie Pawlick, says the government is not making the most of the potential of people with  migrant background. 

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