Bari province reports high foreign resident population and labor disparities

The province of Bari hosts 49,111 foreign residents, the highest number among all provinces in Puglia. According to the 36th Immigration Statistical Dossier, the foreign population in the Puglia region reached 165,797 by the end of 2025, representing 4.3% of the total population and marking a 6.9% increase from the previous year.

Data reveals significant disparities in the labor market. In Puglia, 50.8% of foreign workers are employed in manual, unskilled positions, a rate nearly five times higher than that of Italian workers (10.4%) and significantly above the national average for foreign workers (29.9%).

Despite these disparities, foreign residents show slightly higher labor market participation rates than Italians. The activity rate for foreigners in Puglia is 59.2%, compared to 56.7% for Italians, while the employment rate stands at 52.6% versus 50.9% for the Italian population.