«The approximately 160,000 full-time equivalents employed in banking generate gross value added of some CHF 43 billion annually. This equates to around 5.5% of the country’s total economic output.»
He highlights indirect effects to demonstrate the wide-ranging influence banking has on the overall job market as well as on other sectors of the economy: “Banks indirectly generate high gross value added in other sectors by buying in upstream products and services, supporting a further 170,000 full-time equivalents.”
Hess notes in particular the contribution banking makes to public finances: «The wide range of activities connected to banking services provides the government with revenues of around CHF 8.5 billion, representing just over 5% of total federal, cantonal and communal tax revenues. Added to this are financial market taxes in a similar amount.»
The financial centre flyer is published annually and aimed at interested readers in politics, the media and the general public.