The museum compared to other institutions
How much trust do museums enjoy compared to other organizations? Museum employees should be pleased.
A lot is said, written and whispered about precarious and temporary employment. Let's take a look: How many people work in museums? And how many of them are paid?
We collect the latest studies on museums in German-speaking countries. There are some exciting statistics that provide an insight into visitor numbers, backgrounds and structures.
Did you know that around 40% of staff in Swiss museums work on a voluntary basis? Around 7500 people dedicate their time and passion to communicating culture, knowledge and history.
Curators are probably the best known. However, the majority of exhibition venues need a lot of support in all areas - from administration to technology. Here are the most important figures:
Switzerland 🇨🇭
🏛 1,161 museums
In total, there are around 11,400 employees and 7,500 volunteers.
📍 The 11,400 employees in the museums correspond to a good 6,000 full-time equivalents. This indicates a high proportion of part-time employees.
👉 62% of museum employees are women. Their proportion is higher in art museums (68%) and lower in technical museums (50%).
To make the information even clearer, we have presented it in infographics.
Why is that important? Because these people make culture possible! They organize guided tours, design exhibitions, impart knowledge - and much more.
To put it positively: The experience and passion of museum staff are extremely valuable and make an important contribution to society.
To put it critically: Not everyone can afford to work unpaid or part-time. The museum sector benefits from unpaid work by saving resources and still employing qualified staff. However, this can lead to a dependency on volunteers.
In any case, I would like to say a big thank you to all museum employees! You are the heroes behind the scenes who keep our culture alive.
Sources: Federal Statistical Office
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