Staffing crisis in Italy: there is a shortage of IT specialists, construction workers and drivers
The paradox of the Italian labour market is becoming increasingly apparent: the number of job vacancies is rising, yet it is becoming ever more difficult to find staff for many professions. The labour shortage affects not only high-tech sectors but also quite ordinary professions — from bus drivers and healthcare workers to construction workers, tourism staff and those in the cultural sector.
According to Italian media reports (Rai News, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica and La Stampa), the labour shortage in Piedmont’s transport sector is forcing employers to look for staff outside Italy. For example, the bus company Atap, which operates in the provinces of Biella and Vercelli, has begun recruiting new drivers in Morocco. To this end, a special project to attract foreign workers has been launched with the support of the Moroccan Consulate. The reason is an acute staff shortage. The region needs over 8,000 drivers, whilst there are only around 5,300 potential candidates. The situation is no better in the healthcare system. The Piedmont region is short of more than 6,000 doctors and nurses, whilst there are just over 4,300 available specialists. This is precisely why healthcare facilities are increasingly recruiting staff from abroad, and current legislation allows doctors to work until the age of 72–73. At the same time, demand for IT specialists is also growing. The region needs over 2,500 software developers, but it has not yet been possible to find the required number of specialists.
According to UA Service Hub, the staff shortage is particularly acute in the tourism and culture sectors. Indeed, there are only 183 potential candidates for nearly 21,000 vacancies. These include tour guides, librarians, entertainers, sound engineers, and staff at museums and exhibition centres — professions without which the tourism sector cannot function properly. There is also a shortage of skilled construction workers and manual labourers. At the same time, the opposite situation is observed for low-skilled roles. For example, more than 12,000 people are applying for unskilled industrial jobs, whilst employers are offering fewer than 4,000 vacancies. Experts note that the situation in the labour market is changing not only due to technological developments.
Key factors include an ageing population, demographic decline, the rapid growth of the service sector, and a shift in young people’s attitudes towards professions involving heavy physical labour or low pay. Today, Italy is increasingly facing a new reality: simply creating jobs is no longer enough. The main question is a different one — where to find people who are willing to take them.
