Watchmaking and employment, the hiring headache

Christophe Roulet - There’s probably no worse a situation than being a victim of your own success. As far as watchmaking is concerned, this evolution is reflected mainly in employment. And for good reason, since 2004 sales of Swiss watches and movements have been a big hit on foreign markets.

There’s probably no worse a situation than being a victim of your own success. As far as watchmaking is concerned, this evolution is reflected mainly in employment. And for good reason, since 2004 sales of Swiss watches and movements have been a big hit on foreign markets. A trend that is far from slowing down if you believe Swiss watchmaking industry Federation statistics: industry exports once again recorded a 16.3% increase in the first ten months of this year compared with the same period in 2006. This is a good indication that the 2007 record will be something to celebrate in the profession.

The other side of the coin are the difficulties finding quality component supplies, which corresponds to a genuine quest by seasoned professionals that must allow manufactures to meet demand. What’s the point of presenting models that can’t be delivered in the course of the year due to a lack of necessary production capacities? In this context, watchmaking Houses are pulling all the strings possible to swell their ranks including a programme to reintegrate unemployed people, recruiting retired people, multiplying job offers in Switzerland as well as abroad and above all, reinforcing in-house training by hiring apprentices (read the Focus of the month). This last point is certainly this year’s good news, as the latest figures from the sector’s Employers Convention have just confirmed. Watchmakers seem to have finally understood the need to ensure that there are people to take over the reins, if only to fill the generation gap caused by the quartz crisis.

Furthermore it’s no longer a rare occurrence to hear professionals here and there express a wish that the wonderful boom that this industry is experiencing would slow down, just long enough to digest the capacity and staffing problems to stabilise a situation that is racing out of control. Who would have bet on the mechanical watch barely ten years ago? Today the sector is investing in a string of newcomers and watch making companies will continue to upgrade to market segments that aficionados prize above all else. In this context, the employment challenge isn’t one to be taken lightly. By restoring the profession’s prestige among young people (read the Formation column), watchmakers are preparing for the future. ■

Christophe Roulet

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