A Survey of Recently Arrived Foreigners in Switzerland: A Dive into Why and How?

Since the beginning of the nccr — on the move, particular attention has been given to providing a comprehensive statistical analysis of migration trends in Switzerland. To proceed, we devised an approach based on using existing data but also conducting an innovative “Migration-Mobility” Survey to gather insights. Now, let us dive into a few of the survey’s features and present some of its findings.

The targeted focus of the Migration-Mobility survey on foreign populations has several advantages. It is limited to foreigners who arrived in Switzerland as adults after 2006, excluding people in the asylum system. This makes it possible to ask precise questions about migration along with its economic and social consequences on ‘new migration.’ 

Moreover, the fact that the questionnaire was translated into six languages (including Spanish and Portuguese) facilitated the participation of people with limited knowledge of the Swiss languages. In addition, the substantial survey sample size with over 7,000 participants, surveyed every two years, allows us to analyze the specific migratory behavior of nationals from different regions. Furthermore, sufficient stratification guarantees a number of respondents representing 18 countries or groups of countries, allowing precise analyses.  

Some respondents are asked to take part in several waves of the survey, forming a panel that allows us to track changes in their lives in Switzerland every two years. Finally, the survey‘s flexible design permits the inclusion of thematic questions or modules, such as the 2020 module examining life in Switzerland during the pandemic. 

The results of the first wave carried out in 2016, laid the foundations for a collective publication (Steiner and Wanner, 2019) covering migration and integration in Switzerland from various angles. The subsequent surveys were used for a variety of studies, covering many aspects of life as a foreigner in Switzerland. Survey results were also used to establish integration indicators. At the end of the 4th survey wave carried out in 2022, we look back at four main lessons learned. 

Interviewing Mobile Populations: a Challenge 

Reaching out to people who arrived in Switzerland after a more or less complex migration process is not always easy. These people are characterized by a high degree of residential mobility, which may involve frequent relocation within Switzerland, returning to their country of origin or moving to a third country. It is not always easy to get in touch with the members of the sample drawn at random: almost 10% of the addresses for sample respondents provided to us by the Federal Statistical Office are invalid within just four months of the survey date.  

However, for the people contacted, the participation rate is unexpectedly high. The survey is an opportunity for participants to express their concerns about migration and life in Switzerland. An open-ended question, which has not yet been analyzed in detail, shows that foreigners appreciate certain aspects of Switzerland, such as tranquillity, security and the labor market while noting other more negative aspects linked to socialization and the cost of living. 

Mobile People No Longer Identify as Migrants

Various comments received during the first survey prompted us to abandon the term “migrant,” which was used in the 2016 survey (“living as a migrant in Switzerland”). The term “migrant,” which etymologically refers to people on the move, does not appeal to many of the people surveyed, who prefer the term “expatriate.” The latter traditionally referred to workers sent to a foreign country for a limited period. 

Today, even people who have been living in Switzerland for several years consider themselves to be expats and see themselves as contributing to Swiss prosperity. By claiming this title, the people surveyed highlight the voluntary nature of their arrival in Switzerland, which is not the result of negatively identified push factors such as flight or seeking asylum. Moreover, migration is seen as something desirable for the Swiss labor market, which needs skilled laborers. It cannot therefore be equated with migration, which is all too often stigmatized. 

The Transition to Retirement, a Major Concern

In each survey wave, we offered respondents the opportunity to express their views once the questionnaire had been completed, and slightly less than a third of respondents took this opportunity to add to their answers with qualitative information. Among the many comments received, one theme that stands out is the difficulty of planning for life in Switzerland after retirement because of the cost of living. This situation is further exacerbated by the definition of benefits under the 1st pillar, depending on the length of an individual’s contributions. Consequently, those who arrive in Switzerland during their working lives often find themselves at a disadvantage. In fact, foreigners of postretirement age are at greater risk of poverty compared to their native-born counterparts (Steiner and Wanner, 2023). 

Data for Future Analysis

Finally, it seems important to stress that every two years the survey provides a mass of data, much of which is presented in the form of  indicators or popularization tools. While a number of scientific studies have been published based on these data (Google Scholar currently identifies almost 80 studies using these data), many questions have not yet been explored, particularly in relation to the socialization of foreign nationals in Switzerland, their language skills or their family behavior. This series of blogs attempts to fill in some of these gaps. We also extend the invitation to the scientific community to take note of this open-access data resource and leverage its potential. 

Philippe Wanner is a Professor of Demography at the University of Geneva and the Deputy Director and Project Leader of the nccr – on the move. He is currently leading the project focusing on The Longitudinal Impact of Crises on Economic, Social, and Mobility-Related Outcomes: The Role of Gender, Skills, and Migration Status. 

Bibliography:
-Steiner, Ilka, and Philippe Wanner. 2019 (ed.). Migrants and Expats: The Swiss Migration and Mobility Nexus. Cham Springer.
-Steiner Ilka and Philippe Wanner (2023), Grandes disparités dans les revenus des retraités issus de l’immigration. Sécurité Sociale CHSS, 4 July 2023.