During a visit to a host company in Villars-sur-Glâne on 28 October 2025, Federal Councillor Beat Jans praised the Integrationsvorlehre (INVOL) as a ‘model of success’ for connecting refugees and recent migrants with Switzerland’s dual-education system. The one-year pre-apprenticeship prepares participants linguistically, academically and professionally for regular vocational training, easing their transition into skilled employment.
An evaluation commissioned by the State Secretariat for Migration shows that over 70 percent of INVOL graduates secure an apprenticeship or a job within six months, helping to alleviate Switzerland’s acute shortage of tradespeople and healthcare workers. Employers report high retention rates, while participants gain recognised Swiss qualifications, accelerating their path to long-term residence and social integration.
For multinational companies with Swiss operations, INVOL offers a complementary talent pipeline that can reduce reliance on foreign hiring quotas. HR departments may consider partnering with cantonal authorities to host INVOL trainees, benefiting from subsidies that offset training costs and count toward corporate social-responsibility goals.
The programme’s success is likely to influence ongoing parliamentary debates on labour-market integration measures and next year’s work-permit quotas. Policymakers could scale the model or adapt it for other underrepresented groups, further shaping Switzerland’s immigration landscape.
An evaluation commissioned by the State Secretariat for Migration shows that over 70 percent of INVOL graduates secure an apprenticeship or a job within six months, helping to alleviate Switzerland’s acute shortage of tradespeople and healthcare workers. Employers report high retention rates, while participants gain recognised Swiss qualifications, accelerating their path to long-term residence and social integration.
For multinational companies with Swiss operations, INVOL offers a complementary talent pipeline that can reduce reliance on foreign hiring quotas. HR departments may consider partnering with cantonal authorities to host INVOL trainees, benefiting from subsidies that offset training costs and count toward corporate social-responsibility goals.
The programme’s success is likely to influence ongoing parliamentary debates on labour-market integration measures and next year’s work-permit quotas. Policymakers could scale the model or adapt it for other underrepresented groups, further shaping Switzerland’s immigration landscape.
