More Effective Social Protection for Stronger Economic Growth: Switzerland

Main Findings from the OECD 2024 Risks that Matter Survey

The OECD’s Risks that Matter (RTM) Survey has offered data-driven insights into people’s risk perceptions and preferences for social protection since 2018. Today, the Swiss are less worried than the OECD average about all social and economic risks – from health to education to employment to violence. Concern is highest for not being able to pay all expenses and make ends meet and becoming ill or disabled.

As technology changes labour markets, respondents in Switzerland anticipate negative impacts at similar or slightly lower levels than the OECD average (Figure 1). Reflecting this, Swiss respondents are equally or less supportive of related policy actions. Support is highest for investment in training and education and preferential hiring for domestic workers (Figure 2).

Longer life expectancy and declining fertility contribute to population ageing, with negative implications for economic growth and the financing of social protection. Swiss respondents are less concerned about population ageing than the OECD average. In line with this, respondents in Switzerland are less supportive of related measures, but support is highest for those measures that increase labour supply, especially among women and underrepresented groups, and increase technology use (Figure 3).

Population ageing and competing demands for resources are narrowing the fiscal space for social programmes. These changes are taking place against a backdrop of high levels of debt, a high-interest rate environment, and declining public willingness to pay for social protection. In Switzerland, willingness to pay 2% more for better social protection has declined since the pandemic for all policy areas (Figure 4). Declines have been largest for pensions, long-term care and disability/incapacity supports.

Figure 1. Technological change perceived as producing both positive and negative impacts

Share (%) predicting selected impacts from digitalisation over the next five years, Switzerland and OECD average, 2024

Note: Labels simplified from original questions. See Figure 1.5 in main report.

Source: 2024 OECD Risks that Matter Survey (https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/oecd-risks-that-matter-rtm-survey.html).

Figure 2. Calls for re-training and education for workers affected by technological change

Share (%) supporting specified actions as a response to digitalisation, Switzerland and OECD average, 2024

Note: Labels simplified from original questions. See Figure 2.1 in main report.

Source: 2024 OECD Risks that Matter Survey (https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/oecd-risks-that-matter-rtm-survey.html).

Figure 3. Boosting labour supply and technology are preferred to address worker shortages

Share (%) of respondents who support specified actions to population ageing, Switzerland and OECD average, 2024

Note: Labels simplified from original questions. LFP refers to labour force participation. See Figure 2.4 in main report.

Source: 2024 OECD Risks that Matter Survey (https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/oecd-risks-that-matter-rtm-survey.html).

Figure 4. Willingness to pay more for social programmes has declined since the pandemic

Share (%) willing to pay 2% more for better social and public benefits, by policy area, Switzerland, 2018-24

Note: Questions may have changed slighted year-over-year. Labels simplified from original questions. See Figure 3.1 in main report.

Source: OECD Risks that Matter Survey (https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/oecd-risks-that-matter-rtm-survey.html).

This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.

This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.

 

The full book is available in English: OECD (2025), More Effective Social Protection for Stronger Economic Growth: Main Findings from the 2024 Risks that Matter Survey, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/3947946a-en.

 

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