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Job prospects are bright in watchmaking
Economy

Job prospects are bright in watchmaking

Sunday, 15 June 2014
By Thierry Brandt
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Thierry Brandt

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3 min read

It’s a well-known fact: since the late 1990s, for Swiss watchmaking the only way is up. Granted, the sector was dinted by the 2008-2009 crisis, but not for long. Now it’s green lights all the way, in particular among the major groups which are proving to be in rude health. As for employment, the sector continues to take on new staff. With so many positive factors, should we be encouraging young people to make a career in one of watchmaking’s professions?

The Swiss watch industry employers’ organisation, Convention Patronale de l’Industrie Horlogère Suisse (CP), recently published its annual census of staff and companies in the Swiss watch and microtechnology industries*. Verdict? 2013 turned out to be a very positive year. Exactly 1,470 new jobs were created compared with 2012, an increase of 2.6%. In all, 57,286 people were employed in the sector at the end of last year, in 572 companies. By way of comparison, the number of employees in the branch came to 48,548 in 2010, 41,728 in 2005, 37,334 in 2000 and… 29,809 in 1987, after the major structural crisis which almost brought the entire branch to its knees.

I think I can safely say that Swiss watchmaking's present growth is organic and rooted in solid foundations.
François Matile
"Solid foundations"

Watchmaking shows all the signs of being in robust health, and is attracting young people by the dozen. Is this a good thing? The answer, need we say, is in the question. Of course it is. An opinion shared, though with different shades of agreement, by all the stakeholders – employers, schools and unions – whose global analysis of the situation is the same.
First François Matile, secretary-general of the Convention Patronale: “Every five years we carry out surveys of what businesses need. These surveys cover some forty different professions, which gives us a decent view of the market. We also know that the major groups are on a sound financial footing, as are a good many independent brands and sub-contractors. I think I can safely say that Swiss watchmaking’s present growth is organic and rooted in solid foundations. This means the technical professions that gravitate around watchmaking can also feel confident for the future. Young people needn’t worry. And I’m not just saying this. Look at how companies responded at the height of the 2008-2009 crisis. Throughout this period, they continued to take on staff and train apprentices.”

Maintenance means jobs

As head of the Ecole Technique de la Vallée de Joux (ETVJ), Fabien Graber confirms that all the watch-related professions need to be taken into consideration. “There’s a tendency today to wax lyrical about the artisan-watchmaker at his workbench, poring over the same complication for weeks on end. They do exist, of course, but they are a minority. Now, watch sales have reached record numbers, and all these watches will need regular servicing. A situation like this guarantees employment, and not just in Switzerland. Nor should we overlook the various specialisations in the microtechnology branch. The number of micromechanics is increasing as manufacturing processes become more industrialised. These jobs aren’t any less interesting. On the contrary, they are particularly varied because they involve machines as well as tools. Industry will always need micromechanics, and not just in watchmaking. Think, for example, of the dental or paramedical sectors, of aeronautics and aerospace. Should the economy take a downturn, which I can’t see happening, there are plenty of alternative opportunities for people with good training.”

If we compare watchmaking's collective agreement with those of other sectors, it certainly comes out on top.
Pierluigi Fedele
"Pretty enviable" working conditions

Representing the workers, Pierluigi Fedele, who sits on the management committee of Unia, Switzerland’s biggest union, is equally delighted to see technical professions back in the spotlight. He considers working conditions in the branch to be “pretty enviable” overall. “If we compare watchmaking’s collective agreement with those of other sectors, it certainly comes out on top. If this can encourage young people to choose this type of training, so much the better. It’s important for our country. That said, we mustn’t lower our guard. These past few years we have noted a drop in wages, particularly in the Jura region, although this did mainly concern small sub-contractors. Also, given the situation I think groups could make the extra effort and increase the number of apprentices in their overall intake.”

*Recensement annuel du personnel et des entreprises des industries horlogère et microtechnique suisses

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