Italian restaurant sector adopts AI to manage labor shortages

The Italian restaurant sector is navigating significant labor challenges, with data from Unioncamere and the Ministry of Labour indicating that 52.8% of sought-after roles in the industry were difficult to fill as of June 2026.

To address the difficulty of matching supply with demand, artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into recruitment processes. An analysis by the hospitality staffing agency Restworld of over 187,000 applications between January and August 2026 shows that AI helps manage high volumes; approximately 51% of candidates reach restaurateurs already pre-selected through automated conversations and evaluations.

Despite these technological advancements, engagement remains a hurdle. Roughly 23.4% of analyzed applications stalled because candidates failed to respond to the initial pre-selection message. However, formal disputes regarding automated rejections remain extremely low, at approximately 0.18%.

Amidst these structural shifts, the industry continues to see new business activity. In Milan, the bakery Aalis is scheduled to open in late September 2026, offering an all-day format that combines traditional neighborhood cafe services with contemporary bakery offerings.