Planning to move to switzerland in May, and and searching for guidance

It’s not as easy as that.
Yes, free movement of people gives people the right to live there but they need to have a residence permit and show that they are able to support themselves in order to get one which usually means having a job.
We lived in three different EU countries as an EU citizen from a different country and whilst the procedure wasn’t quite the same for each one there were hoops to jump through in order to get the residency permits.

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Looks like you’re right, only three months are unconditional. So it’s basically the same as in Switzerland.

I see. So it’s basically the Schengen rules. I thought Schengen was one thing (Switzerland is in it) and actual EU member was an other.

I don’t know, but I think many people are hired on a limited contract which means that ultimately, yes, it can be a “seasonal job”. It’s not like they run out of work, I’ve heard there’s always high demand for construction labourers/specialists - but you have to be qualified. i.e. - electricians, plumbers, tilers, crane operators etc etc etc…I mean if you are convinced that you want to change your profession and have the possibility that someone will take you under their “umbrella” and teach you a trade, go for it. But it won’t be simpler than maybe getting additional training and certificates in your field - IT. (just saying :slight_smile: )

The seasonality of construction works is more common in Valais (winter in mountains, higher altitude). In Vaud there is no winter to speak of, construction works continue in winter.

Around here they have a month off in January and the rest of the year is business as usual so there is no real seasonality around construction work here.

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Unemployment in construction by month. So this is not “a month off” but officially unemployed. But maybe this is all in Uri.

The summer-winter difference of around 7000 workers is a measly 2% of the 360k employed in the entire sector. Sure, unemployment through winter months might happen but it’s far from the norm.

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The numbers might be skewed by workers simply moving to their home countries or working other jobs.

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That would be the first year only. From the second year they’d be entitled to unemployment payments.

Or by owners of property in ski towns avoiding construction work during peak ski season. Dec, Jan and Feb is the time to make money from tourists, not to renovate the old windows or bathrooms.

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It’s also a question of the climate, concrete doesn’t dry well far below the freezing point and you can’t work outdoors in the freezing cold or with lots of precipitation. The short days won’t help either though that might be the least problem.

You’d think that the cantons themselves could work against the trend by concentrating their assignments accordingly but laying asphalt at -10° might be outright impossible.

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That seasonal dependence on unemployment benefits is a known phenomena, and that’s not only construction workers in Valais. The same way of milking the unemployment benefits system is used by the “paysagist”/landscaper workers in Vaud who go on “furlough”, get benefits and then rehired in the spring.

The best guidance is DON’T! You are completely naive.