Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER
New vocational qualifications such as ‘solar installer’ and ‘solar technician’ are helping to meet the demand for skilled labour in the rapidly growing solar industry.
The EAER defines framework conditions for the economy and the labour market. It sets the rules that apply in the private sector and in agriculture, and represents the interests of the Swiss economy abroad. It is responsible for organising vocational and professional education and training and promotes research. The EAER also has the task of making sure that the country is supplied with essential goods.
Member of the Federal Council since 2016.
Switzerland’s prosperity is due in large part to its liberal economic order.
Priorities of the EAER in 2024
In economic terms, Switzerland is among the world leaders. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries, together with the medical technology and biotechnology sectors, form a life science cluster that is unique in the world. To boost the economy and improve prosperity, the EAER draws on Switzerland’s liberal economic tradition and focuses on creating good framework conditions to encourage competitiveness, innovation and the labour market.
Competitiveness also means maintaining a good relationship with the EU as well as with other important economic partners worldwide. In this context, trade agreements seek to remove administrative hurdles and ensure that – to the greatest extent possible – the same rules apply to all market players.
In addition, the EAER is continuously seeking to expand international research and innovation cooperation activities. Start-ups play an important role especially in the life sciences sector. That is why the innovation agency Innosuisse is now able to provide even greater support to innovation projects put forward by young companies at an earlier stage in the process.
The Swiss labour market is fortunate to record almost full employment. However, nearly all sectors are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. To meet this global challenge, Switzerland is primarily striving to promote the potential of domestic skilled workers by encouraging continuing education and training, STEM subjects and new vocational apprenticeships.
Expenses 2022 (CHF)
12,67 bn
Staff (FTEs) 2022
2,212
Organisation chart EAER
General Secretariat GS-EAER
Secretary General: Nathalie Goumaz
www.wbf.admin.ch
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
State Secretary: Helene Budliger-Artieda
www.seco.admin.ch
State Secretariat for Education, Research and
Innovation SERI
State Secretary:
Martina Hirayama
www.seri.admin.ch
Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG
Director: Christian
Hofer
www.foag.admin.ch
Federal Office for National Economic Supply FONES
Delegate a.i.: Kurt Rohrbach
www.fones.admin.ch
Federal Office for Housing FOH
Director: Martin
Tschirren
www.bwo.admin.ch
Federal Office for Civilian Service CIVI
Director: Christoph
Hartmann
www.zivi.admin.ch
Autonomous organisations
Office of the Price Supervisor
Price Supervisor:
Stefan Meierhans
www.preisueberwacher.admin.ch
Competition Commission COMCO
Director: Patrik
Ducrey
www.weko.admin.ch
Board of the Federal Institutes of Technology ETH
President of the ETH
Board: Michael O. Hengartner
www.ethrat.ch
Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and
Training SFIVET
Director: Barbara
Fontanellaz
www.sfivet.swiss
Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse
Director: Annalise
Eggimann
www.innosuisse.ch
