A recent report revealed that one in four jobs in Italy is held by foreigners, highlighting the country's growing need for migrant workers.
The study, carried out by the Union of Chambers of Commerce and the Italian Ministry of Labor, is based on service company recruitment programs during the first seven months of 2024, as reported by Schengen News.
During this period, companies in Italy planned to hire around 650 foreign workers, according to Italian News Agency ANSA. The majority of vacancies — representing 20% of the total — were related to the tourism sector. Furthermore, several offers were concentrated in the services area, including call centers, cleaning, maintenance of green areas, in addition to the transport, logistics and storage sectors.
Increased demand for foreign workers in construction
The report also pointed to an increase in demand for migrant workers in the construction industry during the first seven months of 2024. On the other hand, there was a decrease in demand for foreigners in the metallurgy sector.
In recent years, the number of vacancies for foreign workers has grown. According to the portal InfoMigrants, 19,2% of total industry requests in 2023 were aimed at foreign workers, marking the highest rate recorded in the last six years.
Most sought after professions in Italy according to EURES
O EURES 2023 report on labor shortages and surpluses revealed that Italy faces a shortage of workers in 37 occupations. In addition to labor challenges, Italy, as well as other countries in the European Union, faces an increase in the elderly population, which suggests an even greater dependence on foreign workers in the future.
As per the latest EURES report, some of the roles facing labor shortages in Italy include:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Physiotherapists
- Health and social services professionals
- Mathematics and computer science experts
- ICT technicians
- Engineers
- Engineering technicians
- Skilled construction workers
- Restaurant staff
- Welders
- bakers
- Confectioners
- Food service counter attendants
- Computer systems and networks technicians
- Software and application developers
It is estimated that, between 2023 and 2027, 34,3% of job demand will be for professionals with higher education (university or technical), while 48,1% of vacancies will require secondary technical-vocational education.
Future projections
A note published by the IDOS Study and Research Center in October 2023 highlighted that Italy will need at least 280 foreign workers per year by 2050 to face labor shortages.
These numbers reinforce the importance of migrant workers in maintaining the Italian workforce and supporting the country's economy, especially in critical sectors that face recruitment challenges. (Photo: depositphotos.com)
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