Italy faces 30,000 driver shortage amid aging workforce

Italy’s transport sector is confronting a shortage of about 30,000 drivers, with roughly 20,000 vacant positions for truck drivers and 10,000 for passenger‑vehicle operators. The shortage is driven by an aging workforce—average ages of 47 for freight drivers and 50 for passenger drivers—and low recruitment of younger workers, who make up only 5% and 3% of the respective pools.

Industry bodies have responded by launching a digital platform that connects employers with job‑seekers, promotes training programmes, and aims to improve the profession’s image. Officials warn that if the gap persists, it could undermine the competitiveness of Italy’s economy and disrupt the supply chain for goods and public transport.

The initiative seeks to fill immediate vacancies while encouraging longer‑term career prospects for new entrants, hoping to avert deeper logistical problems.