Businesses in Central Switzerland remain optimistic
Lucerne/Rotkreuz - Nearly two thirds of companies operating in Central Switzerland have evaluated their own economic position as good. Larger export-focused companies attest to the fact that they are facing headwinds from global uncertainties. These findings were reported by the «Financial Monitor Central Switzerland 2025».
Despite a slight downturn in comparison with the previous year, businesses in Central Switzerland continue to face the future with optimism. In the «Financial Monitor Central Switzerland 2025», just under two thirds of the surveyed companies describe their economic position as good. The study, which covers the mood and outlook of businesses in Central Switzerland as expressed by CFOs, is carried out each year by the Institute of Financial Services Zug at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Central Switzerland (IHZ). According to the latest edition of the study, nearly six in every ten companies are planning to expand.
Only 3.4 percent of the companies surveyed assessed their own economic situation as poor. These are primarily larger companies that operate on a global basis and are «more export-oriented and therefore exposed to the uncertainties seen in the USA, France, and Germany», as the Financial Monitor explains. Generally speaking, the shortage of skilled workers continues to be highlighted as the greatest challenge facing the companies. However, the «protectionist plans of the new US president» have recently added international trade to the list of challenges as well. The strong Swiss franc, on the other hand, has lost its fear factor: Despite the fact that it is expected to appreciate further against the euro, exchange rate issues are mentioned less frequently than in the previous year.
As far as sustainability reporting is concerned, the Financial Monitor identifies fewer companies making voluntary disclosures than in previous years. At the same time, however, it is striking that the effort required to publish a sustainability report is not as great as many companies initially feared, according to the study.
