On 30 September 2006, the Swiss watch and microtechnology industry employed 2,716 more people than one year previously. Total manpower in the industry increased from 41,728 to 44,444 workers (+6.5%). In absolute terms, this increase is attributable mainly to production personnel, whose numbers rose from 31,000 to 33,161 employees (+ 2,161; +6.9%). While managers (1,594 people, up by 11.2%) and administrative staff (9,272 people, up by 5.2%) also recorded strong increases, home workers were the only category to post a decline, falling again from 485 to 417 people (-68; -14%). The number of firms polled showed virtually no change, increasing only slightly by two units (595 firms compared to 593 in 2005).

After fluctuating for several years around the 40,000 mark, manpower levels in the watch industry therefore took another big step forward last year following the advance made in 2005 (+1,730). This brings the watch industry close to the potential manpower it boasted 25 years ago. Indeed, figures of this magnitude have not been seen since 1981 (45,885)! Back then however they did not offer the same grounds for satisfaction as they do today, given the relentless downward trend that accompanied the industryA