Italy engineering sector faces critical labor shortage and economic shifts

Italian engineering sector labor shortage professional reforms engineering turnover CNI National Congress

At the 70th National Congress of Engineers in Trieste, the CNI Study Center reported significant challenges and economic shifts within the Italian engineering sector. A critical labor shortage has emerged, with over 7,000 engineers being difficult to find out of 14,200 requested by the production system. This represents a 52.5% shortage, primarily due to a lack of available candidates rather than a lack of skills.

Economically, the turnover for engineering and architecture professionals in Italy reached 14.6 billion euros in 2025, a 6.6% decrease from the previous year attributed to declining residential construction investments. However, the broader technical sector (including surveyors and geologists) saw a turnover of 20.5 billion euros. Projections for 2026 suggest a recovery to over 15 billion euros, driven by public works funded by the PNRR.

Angelo Domenico Perrini, president of the CNI, highlighted the need for professional reforms, addressing low remuneration and the integration of Artificial Intelligence. Discussions also focused on university training and the transition toward qualifying degrees to help young professionals enter the workforce more rapidly.

Entities

Angelo Domenico Perrini · Centro studi Cni · Consiglio nazionale degli ingegneri · Italy · PNRR · Trieste

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The 2025 turnover represents a 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year. quotidianodibari.it
[● 3 SOURCES] The turnover for the expanded SIA sector (including surveyors, geologists, and industrial experts) was 20.5 billion euros in 2025. quotidianodibari.it
[● 3 SOURCES] The turnover for engineering and architecture professionals and companies in Italy reached 14.6 billion euros in 2025. quotidianodibari.it
[● 3 SOURCES] The decline in turnover is attributed to a contraction in residential construction investments. quotidianodibari.it
[● 3 SOURCES] The SIA sector turnover grew by 85% over a five-year period. quotidianodibari.it
[● 3 SOURCES] Turnover for the SIA sector is estimated to exceed 15 billion euros in 2026 due to PNRR public works funding. quotidianodibari.it