Rejecting the ‘No to a 10-Million Switzerland’ Initiative

For a strong research and industrial hub

At first glance, the popular initiative “No to 10 million Switzerland” seems to offer a simple solution to complex challenges related to immigration, infrastructure, and population growth. On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that the initiative would jeopardize key pillars of Swiss prosperity. The consequences would be particularly severe for the export-oriented and research-intensive sectors of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences. scienceindustries therefore firmly rejects the initiative.

Rigid population caps create uncertainty rather than solutions

The initiative aims to limit Switzerland’s population to a maximum of ten million people by 2050. If the population exceeds 9.5 million, the federal government and parliament would be required to implement drastic measures. Should these measures fail to take effect within two years, Switzerland would have to terminate the free movement of persons with the EU.

Such a rigid, state-imposed cap would plunge Switzerland into a period of permanent uncertainty. Businesses, research institutions, and public bodies would be forced to make long-term plans under politically and economically unstable conditions. At a time when technological innovation, global connectivity, and the availability of skilled workers are decisive competitive factors, this would constitute a major disadvantage for Switzerland as a business location.

The shortage of skilled workers will worsen further

Demographic trends pose major challenges for Switzerland. In the coming years, significantly more people will retire than young workers entering the labor market. Forecasts suggest that by 2030—depending on the development of the domestic workforce—around half a million workers could be missing.

The chemical, pharmaceutical, and life sciences industries are already heavily reliant on international skilled workers. In the pharmaceutical sector, around half of employees hold a foreign passport. Among highly qualified specialists and researchers, the proportion is even higher. In certain regions, cross-border commuters are also a key component of value creation.

Without regulated immigration, the shortage of skilled workers would worsen significantly. This would directly affect innovation, production security, and supply. At the same time, social security financing would come under additional pressure, as fewer workers would need to support more retirees.

Threats to the bilateral path and EU market access

The free movement of persons is a central element of Switzerland’s bilateral relations with the European Union. Its abolition would considerably impede access to the European single market, directly affecting the export sector. For highly internationally networked industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences, this would be particularly problematic.

Research, production, and value creation in these sectors are closely intertwined with European partners. Restrictions on market access or collaboration would slow investment, endanger innovation projects, and, in the long term, cost jobs in Switzerland.

A return to inefficient and bureaucratic systems

Terminating the free movement of persons would very likely lead to a return to quota systems. In the past, these have proven to be bureaucratic, costly, and inefficient. They make needs-based recruitment more difficult and significantly increase administrative burdens for companies—without effectively managing immigration.

For innovative industries that must respond quickly to technological developments and market demands, such systems would represent a significant competitive disadvantage.

The initiative ignores the structural causes of the challenges

While the initiative seeks to address real concerns among parts of the population—such as infrastructure, housing, or asylum policy—it offers no sustainable solutions. Instead of targeting the areas where the greatest pressures exist, it relies on a rigid cap that creates new problems.

Sustainable policies must consider productivity, infrastructure planning, integration, housing development, and the education system together. Blanket population caps do not contribute to this. From scienceindustries’ perspective, targeted and effective measures are required that both strengthen Switzerland’s competitiveness and address the public’s concerns.

These include, in particular:

• Strengthening the domestic skilled workforce, including through promotion of STEM education and vocational training in scientific and technical professions, further development of higher vocational education, support for continuing education and career changes, and better utilization of the potential of workers aged 55 and over;
• Ensuring the free movement of persons with the EU as a key instrument for needs-based recruitment of skilled workers;
• Better leveraging the potential of skilled workers from third countries, for example by facilitating labor market access for highly qualified graduates of Swiss universities;
• Targeted measures in infrastructure, housing, and asylum policy to effectively reduce specific pressures.

A clear ‘No’ in the interest of prosperity and stability

The “No to 10 million Switzerland” initiative would threaten central success factors for Switzerland: access to skilled workers, international networking of research and industry, and stable economic conditions. It does not solve structural problems but creates new risks for prosperity, supply security, and societal stability.

For scienceindustries, the conclusion is clear: the initiative is the wrong approach. Switzerland needs forward-looking policies that promote innovation, secure a skilled workforce, and strengthen the country’s position in the long term—not rigid limits that jeopardize growth, research, and competitiveness.