Italy's new wage analysis compares pay across EU countries

The Fondazione Studi Consulenti del Lavoro released a study titled “Analisi retributiva: disciplina italiana a confronto con altri Stati comunitari”. The report compares Italy’s wage system with Greece, Ireland and the Netherlands, adding to earlier comparisons of France, Germany, Spain, Romania and Sweden. It stresses that looking only at the monthly paycheck overlooks additional components such as extra monthly payments, severance pay, and sickness or maternity benefits.

Data from Istat show a decline in Italians moving abroad, from over 140,000 in 2024 to 109,000 in 2025, while the number of returnees stays above 50,000 per year. The analysis highlights Italy’s strong collective‑bargaining model and the recently introduced Trattamento Economico Complessivo (TEC), which replaces the hourly‑wage concept and incorporates the 13th month, severance and other welfare elements. A comparative table of remuneration structures across the listed EU states is included. The study also notes that among young Italians choosing to work abroad, Germany and Spain remain the most popular destinations.