Key Takeaways

·      A recent study revealed that foreign workers in Italy tend to earn less than locals.

·      As of January 2023, about 2.4 million foreigners were working in Italy, representing over ten per cent of the total workers.

·      Italy is expected to need additional foreign workers in the upcoming years to tackle shortages in different sectors.

The number of third-country workers in Italy reached nearly 2.4 million in January 2023, according to a recent report by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.

Although representing over ten per cent of the total employees, third-country nationals (TCNs) working in Italy tend to earn less than Italian workers.

Citing the report, Ilssusi Diario noted that over 70 per cent of these workers fulfil executive tasks with professional characteristics and working agreements that generate 30 per cent less revenue than Italian workers.

Meanwhile, the industries with the highest share of migrant workers employed include personal services (30.4 per cent), agriculture (18 per cent), catering and tourism (17.4 per cent), construction (16.4 per cent), and transport and warehouses (12.4 per cent).

33% of Families Comprised Only of TCNs Are Living in Absolute Poverty

The report further revealed that over 33 per cent of families comprised only by third-country nationals are facing absolute poverty, compared with over six per cent of Italian families.

Meanwhile, the number of TCNs living in Italy as of January 2023 (including those employed) reached 3.2 million.

The most common foreign nationalities in the Italian labour market are Morocco (399,146), Albania (389,646), Ukraine (383,511), China (284,495), and India (164,419).

1 in 4 Jobs in Italy Targets Migrant Workers

Although they tend to be paid less than locals, foreign workers are needed in Italy to tackle labour shortages.

A recent report by the Union of Chambers of Commerce and the Italian Ministry of Labour indicated that one in four jobs in the country is offered to foreigners.

Among other things, the report noted an increasing demand for foreign workers in the construction sector during the first seven months of 2024.

However, construction is not the only sector facing labour shortages in Italy. The 2023 EURES report on shortages and surpluses revealed that this country is grappling with labour shortages in 37 occupations, including manufacturing, healthcare, food service, and information technology.

In addition to the current shortage, the need for foreign staff is expected to increase due to several factors, such as the ageing population.

According to an earlier note by the IDOS Study and Research Centre, Italy will need at least 280,000 overseas workers annually until 2050 to address the labour shortages.