A current ranking by Statista and Handelszeitung for 2026 honors the best employers in Switzerland. The results are based on an online survey of over 15,000 employees and 1,800 companies.
The companies that made the top 250 excel in areas such as pay, working conditions, professional development and other aspects that are critical to a great place to work. FashionUnited has brought together the leaders in watches and jewelry, retail and fashion/sports goods.
Watches and jewelry
At the top of the watch and jewelry industry in 2026 will be the Rolex brand. In the overall ranking of all Swiss companies, the luxury watch manufacturer takes 23rd place with a score of 7.66. Rolex thus defends its position as an industry leader, although the company has lost a few places compared to last year, when it was still in the top 10. However, its consistency as a top employer underlines the high reputation of the brand among employees.
Another major player in this sector is Victorinox. The company, which is known for both its pocket knives and watches, ranks 35th in the current overall ranking with 7.55 points. Victorinox is often valued for its strong corporate culture and stability, which is reflected in its continuous presence among the best employers in Switzerland.
Compared to the previous year, the watch and jewelry industry has lost a few places in the overall ranking. Other listed companies in this sector include the Richemont Group, which follows at some distance in 67th place with a score of 7.37, as well as the Swatch Group in 159th place (6.89 points) and the luxury goods group LVMH in 192nd place (6.72 points).
What is striking compared to previous years is that some watch brands such as Breitling, which even won the overall title in 2024, have lost some ground in the current ranking. Experts attribute this, among other things, to the economic challenges in the watch industry, such as the strong franc and changing export conditions, which can also have an indirect impact on the perception of employer attractiveness.
retail
IKEA Switzerland particularly stands out in the area of retail and retail-related services. With an excellent 17th place in the overall ranking and a score of 7.70, IKEA is the best-placed employer in this industry. The Swedish furniture store obviously enjoys a very high level of trust among its employees in Switzerland and clearly stands out from other retailers.
The supermarket chain Coop, which also offers clothing, is in 77th place with a score of 7.3. The food discounters Lidl Switzerland and Aldi Switzerland, which also have clothing in their range, took 157th and 169th place respectively with a score of 6.9 and 6.85 respectively.
The Swiss department store chain Manor made it into the ranking in 216th place with a score of 6.57, which placed a total of 250 companies.
Clothing and sporting goods company
Also relevant for the retail sector is the development of large international brands. While companies like Decathlon performed very well in the retail sector in previous years, the 2026 ranking shows a concentration on established giants like IKEA. Decathlon achieved a score of 7.15 this year and narrowly missed the top 100 at number 105.
The industry as a whole is under pressure, which makes the excellent ranking of the front runners all the more remarkable. Domestic companies score points here: Töpfenbach-Ochsner AG Schuhe und Sport made it to 50th place with a score of 7.48, followed by Chicorée Mode in 67th place with a score of 7.38.
In summary, it can be said that despite a difficult market environment – characterized by the strong franc and global trade uncertainties – the companies mentioned continue to be among the 250 best employers in the country. Rolex and IKEA Switzerland assert themselves as the respective industry leaders. The absence of previous leaders such as Breitling or Patek Philippe in this year’s ranking also indicates a high level of dynamism and changing conditions of participation or perceptions within the Swiss working world.
