According to Deloitte's latest survey of Swiss finance chiefs, 61 percent of the CFOs surveyed expect the Swiss economy to develop positively over the next 12 months.

Only 8 percent of the finance chiefs surveyed expect the Swiss economy to deteriorate. Sentiment has therefore brightened significantly compared with the previous survey.

According to Deloitte, companies' revenue expectations have also risen sharply. Sixty-two percent expect revenues to increase over the next year. In the first half of 2026, the figure was only 43 percent.

(Source: Deloitte)

Geopolitical risks are cited as the main concern, followed by worries about weakening demand or a recession. Regulation and political decisions are also mentioned.

Confidence also for China and the US

The CFOs surveyed are not only assessing the outlook for Switzerland more positively than they were six months ago. Their assessment has also improved for China and the US.

Germany is an exception: although the assessment of the economic outlook there has brightened slightly compared with spring, the structural challenges remain significant, according to the survey.

AI is seen as an important driver. It has considerable potential to propel business development. The average budgeted spending on AI is put at 0.9 percent of total expenditures by CFOs. At the same time, they also say that AI investments are turning out to be more expensive than expected.

Artificial intelligence is weighing on employment prospects

Despite the improved economic outlook, employment prospects in Switzerland remain weak. Many finance chiefs believe that the increasing use of artificial intelligence will reduce the number of jobs. Entry-level positions and junior roles could be particularly affected.

The results therefore point to a growing gap between companies' economic expectations and their staffing plans: while CFOs are more optimistic about the economy and revenue trends, they expect technological change to reshape the labor market.