1.0Market Snapshot
- 5,118
- Private training and continuing-education providers in 2024 — language schools (1,622), IT training (234) and other teaching (3,262), NOGA 85.59, BFS STATENT — up 51% from 3,384 in 2011. Private schools and publishers are not included.
- 16,360
- Employees in 2024, BFS STATENT, but only 7,288 full-time equivalents — 1.4 per enterprise. Most trainers work part-time or teach alongside another job; 68% are women.
- +1.6%
- Employment growth in 2024 (16,095 to 16,360), BFS STATENT. Employment has grown 9.1% since 2020, but language schools shrank while other teaching grew 22%.
- 1.4
- Full-time equivalents per training enterprise in 2024 (BFS STATENT): the sector is mostly one-person businesses and small schools.
- 180,000+
- People a year taking courses at Klubschule Migros, Switzerland's best-known adult-education brand, at about 30 centres.
According to Val Index analysis of Swiss commercial-register and federal data (2026), Switzerland counts 5,118 education & training companies — Private training and continuing-education providers in 2024 — language schools (1,622), IT training (234) and other teaching (3,262), NOGA 85.59, BFS STATENT — up 51% from 3,384 in 2011. Private schools and publishers are not included..
2.0Industry Overview
Private training in Switzerland is a sector of many very small providers. The BFS counts 5,118 enterprises in language teaching, IT training and other teaching in 2024 with 16,360 employees (STATENT) — but only 7,288 full-time equivalents, 1.4 per enterprise. The number of providers has grown 51% since 2011, much faster than employment (+27%): new one-person trainers and coaches keep entering the market. The Federal Act on Continuing Education (WeBiG), in force since 2017, leaves continuing education mainly to individuals and employers, so demand follows company training budgets and personal spending. Revenue is not published.
3.0Industry Health Check (SWOT)
- Steady demand for continuing education from employers and individuals
- Very small firms: 1.4 full-time equivalents per enterprise
- Corporate upskilling in digital and AI skills
- Apps and AI tutors replacing language courses
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Education & Training business valuation in Switzerland
- Statutory Multiple (EBITDA)
- 4.0 - 6.0×
- Deal Multiple (EBITDA)
- 5.0 - 8.0×
- Market Trend
- Rising
Indicative ranges based on market research. Actual multiples vary by company size, growth, and market conditions.
8.0Regional Clusters
Zurich
1,179 enterprises with 5,202 employees in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 85.59) — 32% of employment. EF and Miduca (Klubschule Migros) are registered in Zurich.
Western Switzerland
1,193 enterprises — the most of any region — with 4,558 employees.
Northwestern Switzerland
679 enterprises with 1,934 employees.
Eastern Switzerland
644 enterprises with 1,513 employees.
Bern and Solothurn
596 enterprises with 1,358 employees; Feusi is based in Bern.
Central Switzerland
549 enterprises with 1,143 employees.
Ticino
260 enterprises with 634 employees.
Sources
9.0Frequently Asked Questions
▶How much is a training or continuing-education company worth in Switzerland?
ValIndex's multiples table puts Swiss education and training companies at 5.0–8.0× EBITDA in transactions and 4.0–6.0× EBITDA on statutory valuations. Schools with accredited programmes, recurring corporate contracts and a team of trainers sit at the upper end; one-person businesses dependent on the founder sit lower.
▶What drives the value of a Swiss training provider?
Buyers price: (1) recurring corporate contracts; (2) recognised qualifications and accreditation; (3) the brand and student acquisition; (4) trainer retention; (5) dependence on the founder; (6) online and blended formats.
▶How big is the Swiss private training sector?
BFS STATENT counts 5,118 enterprises with 16,360 employees in language teaching, IT training and other teaching in 2024, but only 7,288 full-time equivalents. Employment grew 1.6% in 2024. Revenue is not published.
▶Who are the main training providers in Switzerland?
The best-known are EF Education First (Zurich, owned by the Hult family), Klubschule Migros (run by Miduca AG, more than 180,000 people a year) and private education groups such as Feusi in Bern. Most other providers are very small.
▶What are the key trends in Swiss continuing education?
Five trends: (1) more, smaller providers; (2) language schools are shrinking; (3) coaching and professional courses grow; (4) large brands restructure, such as Klubschule Migros under Miduca; (5) founder succession in established schools.
▶What are the main risks when buying a Swiss training company?
The main risks are: (1) dependence on the founder as main trainer; (2) employers cutting training budgets; (3) online and AI competition, especially for languages; (4) loss of accreditation or trainers; (5) low barriers to entry. Due diligence should check contracts, accreditation and trainer agreements.
▶Are Swiss language schools growing?
No. Language schools employed 6,750 people in 2024, fewer than in 2020 (6,941), and their number fell from 1,687 to 1,622 (BFS STATENT). Growth is in coaching, professional and other courses.
▶Where are Swiss training providers located?
Zurich has the most employment (5,202 in 1,179 enterprises in 2024), followed by Western Switzerland (4,558 in 1,193), Northwestern Switzerland (1,934), Eastern Switzerland (1,513), Bern and Solothurn (1,358), Central Switzerland (1,143) and Ticino (634).