Working in Italy is a promising prospect for many, as the country's economy is one of the strongest in the EU. Despite this, Italy does struggle with a high unemployment rate and slow growth rates relative to the rest of Western Europe. There are also significant disparities between the northern and southern regions of the country.
Job market in Italy
Italian companies such as Ferrari and Prada are world renowned, and the country is well known for being a global fashion centre and manufacturer of automobiles. This, however, does not give a complete picture of the job market in Italy, since different industries operate in different regions. The country has a relatively small number of international corporations, while small and medium enterprises create the most jobs.
Northern Italy is well developed, industrialised, and responsible for most exports. Southern Italy, on the other hand, is economically much weaker, far more agricultural and struggles with much higher rates of unemployment. As a result, many new arrivals work in Italy’s northern regions and in Rome, the Italian capital.
With a lack of natural resources throughout the country, the main driver of the Italian economy is its service sector. Tourism plays an especially significant role, with the wealth of cultural attractions in Italy drawing in millions of tourists every year.
The manufacturing sector also plays a crucial role in Italy’s economy, with the country’s biggest exports including cars, furniture, food, and, unsurprisingly, fashion. While the agricultural sector makes a relatively small contribution to Italy’s GDP, Italy is one of the world’s largest producers of wine, olive oil, and fruit, especially in the country’s south.
The industries that have traditionally been the most open to foreigners are tourism, finance, media and communication, and international business. That said, the current economic climate does make finding a job in Italy as a foreigner quite challenging.
Teaching English in Italy is an increasingly popular option for expats seeking employment in the country. Given higher levels of competition for jobs, those with the relevant qualifications and experience are most likely to find work as teachers.
Finding a job in Italy
While it is changing slowly, a large proportion of Italians don’t speak English very well, if at all. Italian remains the official language of business, and as a result, foreigners seeking employment in Italy are often expected to be fluent in the local language. As a rule, Italian businesses are biased towards qualifications over experience. Those who are most likely to find employment in Italy have one or more degrees and speak a serviceable amount of Italian.
There are several avenues that expats searching for jobs in Italy can explore. Online job portals are the most accessible and practical means of looking for jobs. Agencies and recruiters are also viable options. Some expats look for short-term jobs first to get experience in the Italian workplace before trying to land a longer-term appointment.
While EU citizens have the right to work in Italy, non-EU citizens must obtain a work permit.
Useful links
Work culture in Italy
Business culture, like Italian society in general, respects age, seniority, and expertise. New arrivals will notice this extends to the workplace, where hierarchical structures are the norm. It is always important to dress well, as appearances and first impressions are important to Italians.
Business hours in Italy are usually between 8am and 1pm and from 3pm to 7pm, depending on the business and the industry. Many businesses, especially in the retail sector, close on Monday mornings. While this is less the case at major firms in big cities, Italians traditionally take a two-hour lunch, contributing to the somewhat unorthodox working day.