The latest BEST RECRUITERS Study 2024/25 has, for the twelfth time, examined the recruiting quality of around 450 of the largest companies and institutions in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein—delivering a detailed and differentiated analysis.

On 2 April in Zurich, the latest recruiting trends were presented, and the BEST RECRUITERS in the region were honoured. With outstanding results across all categories, Helsana Versicherungen AG claimed the overall victory this year. Among the approximately 150 guests were HR professionals, executives from top employers, and advisory board members such as Prof. Dr. Marco Furtner, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership at the University of Liechtenstein, and Kuno Ledergerber, former Head of the Center for Human Capital Management at ZHAW.

Hilti AG Ranked 8th Overall

Of the 31 industry champions, three are based in Liechtenstein:

• Hilti AG secured first place in the Industrial category,
• thyssenkrupp Presta AG led the Automotive category, outperforming Swiss competitors,
• Ivoclar Vivadent AG took the top spot in Pharma/Biotech/Medical Technology.

While TikTok and video content continue to gain ground and usability has made significant progress, the results for cybersecurity, leadership communication, and response time to applications were, in part, sobering.

Significant Weaknesses in Cybersecurity

Only 6% of career websites are technically secured against data breaches. Essential measures such as security headers or encrypted connections are absent in the vast majority—an alarming gap, especially amid rising data protection standards. In addition, mobile career sites are plagued by long loading times, which test the patience of users.

Over Half of Inquiries from Young Candidates Remain Unanswered

A fictional 17-year-old applicant sent an email requesting job shadowing or internship opportunities. Backed by a motivation programme through the Regional Employment Office (RAV), the message served as a test for responsiveness. 59% of companies did not respond, and only 29% replied within three working days—a dramatic drop of 32 percentage points compared to the previous year. By contrast, inquiries about application status saw significantly higher response rates in earlier scenarios.

Leadership Rarely Addressed in Job Ads

Only 2% of the job ads reviewed contained statements about leadership style. Just three in ten employers addressed leadership in various dimensions on their career sites. Fewer than 20% specifically referenced leadership training, and clear leadership principles were found on only 14% of websites. First-hand testimonials from leaders were present on just 4%—and those featured lacked diversity.

Video Content Booming, Social Media Widely Used

Today, 72% of career websites incorporate video. Job ads are also evolving, with one in five now including video content. Notably, three-quarters of the videos focus on actual job tasks and work environments, rather than purely image-building.

Instagram is used by 49% of employers, while TikTok has grown to 17%, up six percentage points. YouTube usage is also increasing. X (formerly Twitter) continues to decline and is now used by just 6% of employers. In contrast, LinkedIn remains nearly universally used. Less encouraging: community management lags behind, with interaction rates on LinkedIn and Instagram under 10%.

More Structure and Better Findability

The usability of online job ads has significantly improved (from 52% to 71%), partly thanks to the first-ever technical analysis of job platforms. The search engine visibility of mobile career websites has also been greatly enhanced—although load times remain problematic.

Top 3 Recruiters 2024/25 in the Principality of Liechtenstein

1. Hilti AG
2. thyssenkrupp Presta AG
3. Ivoclar Vivadent AG