Two thirds of Swiss apprentices face psychological issues

Two thirds of Swiss apprentices suffer from psychological problems and do not find support in the vocational training system, according to a survey by the psychiatric competence centre WorkMed. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The Swiss Trade Union Union (SSU) is calling for rapid intervention. The representative survey, carried out on a sample of 49,000 apprentices throughout Switzerland, confirms the results of a survey of young people in training conducted by the trade union Unia in 2024, reads a statement issued by the USS. "Their distress is very real and the need for action is clear. Apprenticeships need greater recognition and more holidays," writes the Swiss trade union. A first step, according to the USS, would be to extend apprenticeship holidays to eight weeks, compared to the current five. Psychological problems As many as 61% of the survey participants indicated that they suffered from psychological problems during their apprenticeship. In ...