The I-Aer Institute estimates that between 2024 and 2028, Italy will create around 3 million jobs. Of these, approximately 640—equivalent to 21%—are expected to be filled by foreigners.
The survey considers data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies and indicates that demand will be concentrated in sectors with high turnover and a constant need for workforce, such as agriculture, logistics, construction, and services.
“In a scenario of an aging population and labor shortages, small and medium-sized Italian companies face a structural challenge: finding, integrating, and retaining qualified personnel,” says Fabio Papa, economist and founder of I-Aer.
Sectors with the highest demand
According to the study, 59% of the openings will be for low-skilled positions, such as laborers, machine operators, and workers without specific training. Approximately 29% of the positions will require intermediate training, focused on customer service, transportation, and retail.
Only 12% of vacancies will be allocated to highly qualified professionals, such as technicians, engineers, technology specialists and advanced healthcare professionals.
According to I-Aer, 41% of total jobs will correspond to staff replacement, while 59% will be new jobs.
Labor shortage and economic impact
In 2024, 48% of open positions remained unfilled. Among artisanal companies, the figure rises to 55%. The average hiring time is 3,3 months, and can exceed a year for technical positions.
This delay resulted in an estimated loss of €13,2 billion – around R$85 billion – in added value not generated by the Italian economy.
Despite growing demand, salary inequalities still exist. A foreigner earns, on average, 70% of the salary of an Italian with the same level of education. For residents of less than 10 years, this difference is even greater.
Integration as an economic strategy
In the year 2024, 217 thousand foreigners acquired the Italian citizenshipOver the last decade, more than 1,5 million people have been naturalized.
According to I-Aer, foreign workers generate €164,2 billion in added value, representing 8,8% of the country's GDP.
Even so, only 47% of companies recognize the importance of investing in the integration of these professionals.
"This workforce will be an essential part of our future. But for this potential to translate into success, we need to provide tools: language courses, technical training, and support in the workplace," argues Fabio Papa.
For him, integrating immigrants is an economic decision. "It's about ensuring more stable teams, reducing turnover, and improving the quality of work in SMEs. When valued, foreign human capital becomes a driver of growth and competitiveness."
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