The Zurich Financial Industry Job Market – Opportunities and Challenges
For more than four decades, Zurich has been a central hub for the financial sector. Yet the mood among industry professionals is currently unusually subdued. Providers of actively managed funds are increasingly under pressure from the growing dominance of ETFs. When performance fails to beat benchmarks, the situation becomes even more difficult. ETF providers themselves also face challenges: extremely low fees have turned the business into a pure volume game, while digital platforms are reducing the need for personal advisory services.
Another factor shaping the industry is the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Many tasks will be automated, which will inevitably make some roles redundant while simultaneously creating new ones. The key question remains: who will benefit from this transformation, and where will new opportunities arise?
To gain insights into these developments, Fundplat CEO Thomas J. Caduff met with Johannes J. Schickentanz and Eva Sofie Rehwald from Rehwald Associates Switzerland GmbH on August 25, 2025. During their exchange at Zurich’s “Joe & the Juice,” they shared valuable perspectives on the current market situation.
Rehwald Associates, located just steps away from Stauffacherplatz, specializes in executive search and headhunting within financial services, with a strong focus on asset and wealth management. In addition to Zurich, the firm maintains offices in Frankfurt, Luxembourg, and London. In addition to Zurich, the firm maintains offices in Frankfurt, Luxembourg, and London.
As Johannes and Eva Sofie outlined, today’s market is highly differentiated. While certain areas show restraint, others are recruiting in a very targeted and selective way. At the same time, there are segments with clear growth potential. Overall, the balance of power has shifted more in favor of employers. This has led to a healthier compensation structure, while still offering high-performing professionals attractive career opportunities in today’s environment.
