The Transparent IT Job Market Report 2025 by SwissDevJobs.ch provides one of the most comprehensive looks into the Swiss tech landscape to date. Based on 5,300+ job listings and insights from a community of 45,000 IT professionals, the report reveals how the job market, salaries, AI adoption, and candidate expectations are evolving in Switzerland.
1. The Junior Reality: Barriers, Expectations & the Shift in Entry Paths
Breaking into IT remains challenging in 2025. While degrees remain helpful in terms of the confidence they evoke in the employer, formal education is no longer a strict requirement — alternative pathways such as bootcamps and self-learning have become increasingly viable.
🔑 Key takeaways:
- Many juniors feel entry-level roles demand too much experience.
- Most juniors find their first job through job boards or personal networks.
- A large majority secure their job in under three months, though others struggle significantly longer.
- AI tools have mixed perceptions among juniors: some say AI helps, others feel it increases competition.
For hiring managers, this highlights the need to re-evaluate job requirements and consider offering clearer pathways for early-career talent.
2. AI in the Workplace: Productivity Gains, Pressures, and Growing Caution
AI is deeply embedded into daily workflows — but not replacing jobs anytime soon.
📊 Key insights:
- 79% of respondents do not believe AI will take over their job in the next 5 years.
- Most employees use AI tools to some extent, especially for coding, research, and automation.
- Productivity increases are real — but so is pressure to outperform.
- Developers remain cautious: 72% verify AI-generated code rather than trusting it blindly.
For IT leaders, the report highlights a critical balance: AI boosts efficiency, but unmanaged expectations can lead to burnout.
3. AI in Job Hunting: Adoption Is Slow but Growing
AI is changing how candidates approach job applications — but slowly.
- Only a small minority use AI tools for mass applications.
- Most developers use AI selectively, primarily for specific coding tasks.
- Trust in AI-generated code is rising, but caution remains the norm.
Candidates see AI as an assistant, not a replacement for their skills — and hiring managers should expect more AI-augmented profiles in the coming years. Another assistant can be a recruiter agency like Rockstar… , sign up here: www.rockstar.jobs/candidates
4. Job Changes: Why Software Engineers Leave and How Long They Stay Unemployed
Retention remains a challenge in 2025. Reasons for job change:
- Salary dissatisfaction (34%)
- Poor management (33%)
- Lack of flexibility (21%)
Tenure trends:
- Nearly 50% stay 5+ years in one company.
- But re-employment varies widely:
- Half find a job within 3 months
- More than 20% remain unemployed for over a year
For companies, the message is clear: Competitive salaries and strong leadership matter more than ever.
For candidates, if you are dissatisfied, sign up here: www.rockstar.jobs/candidates
5. Candidate Expectations: Transparency, Feedback, and Process
The hiring process is a pain point for both sides.
Top frustrations:
- Lack of feedback
- Too many interview stages
- Missing salary information
Speed and transparency significantly impact a company’s brand. Posting clear job ads and giving timely feedback are no longer “nice to have” — they are competitive advantages.@ for companies, if you have trouble finding the right candidates in this market - rockstar.jobs/companies we look forward to helping you.
6. How Candidates Search for Jobs
🏘️ Networking remains king. Human 2 human beats GenAi applications
- Friends & professional networks are the #1 job source.
- Online job boards — especially transparent platforms — remain essential.
- Employers should strengthen their presence where candidates actually look.
- Specialised recruiting agencies like Rockstar
7. What Experts Say: Industry Insights from HR Leaders
Recruiting leaders across Switzerland report:
- Higher-quality applicants, but lower volumes.
- A growing focus on AI-assisted sourcing and automation, but not full AI-driven hiring.
- A strong emphasis on hiring early-career talent to build future pipelines.
- Culture, growth, and meaningful work matter more than ever to candidates.
The recruitment landscape has shifted from quantity to quality and alignment.
Furthermore, check out our new brand for HR & Recruiters:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/recruit-tech-recruiting-insights
8. Salary Trends: Switzerland Remains a High-Value Market
Based on 5,300+ salaries on SwissDevJobs.ch:
- Average IT salary: 106,900 CHF/year
- Median salary: 105,000 CHF/year
- High-paying fields:
- Architect, Security, SAP, Data, ML/AI, Java
- Lower-paying fields:
- Support, PHP
- Highest salary regions:
- Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Thun
The Swiss market remains globally competitive — but salary expectations continue to rise, especially for specialized and senior roles.
Closing Thoughts
The Swiss IT job market in 2025 is defined by AI transformation, rising expectations, and the increasing importance of transparency.
For IT professionals, the report highlights the value of continuous learning, strong networks, and adaptability rockstar.jobs/candidates
For hiring managers, it emphasizes the need to refine recruitment practices, invest in junior pathways, and maintain competitive compensation packages rockstar.jobs/companies
Report
Read the full report below or download it via the link:
