Italian restaurant sector faces labour shortage, says Carmela Tiso

Carmela Tiso, national spokesperson for Accademia Iniziativa Comune and president of the Bandiera Bianca association, said that each summer Italian hotels, restaurants, beach establishments and cafés publish dozens of job ads for waiters, cooks, pizza makers, bartenders and kitchen assistants, yet the sector repeatedly struggles to fill positions. She noted the common refrain that “young people don’t want to work” oversimplifies a complex problem driven by social changes, shifting expectations of new generations and working conditions that are often unattractive.

Tiso highlighted that many contracts are temporary, seasonal or short‑term, requiring weekend, holiday and late‑night shifts, which many young workers find unsustainable. She called for a new balance between business needs and worker expectations, urging investment in job quality, training, safety, skill recognition and more stable contracts, and stressing that constructive dialogue among employers, institutions and employees is essential to revive the sector’s attractiveness.