Italy faces labor market shifts and digital skills shortages

A recent survey by Indeed indicates that 69% of Italian workers would consider a career change, with 26% viewing it as a constant thought. The most sought-after sectors for new careers include public administration (31%), sales (26%), IT (23%), logistics (20%), and manufacturing (19%). Despite this desire for change, many workers are deterred by concerns regarding age, the prospect of starting over, and the fear of failure.

Simultaneously, Italian businesses are facing a significant digital skills gap. Data from Unioncamere and ANPAL shows that for the 621,180 digital positions sought in 2025, approximately half remain unfilled due to a lack of available candidates. Specifically, over 50% of the 316,000 advanced digital technicians requested by companies are difficult to find.

While the adoption of artificial intelligence among small Italian enterprises doubled from 7.7% in 2024 to 15.7% in 2025, this figure remains below the EU average of 20%. Small businesses report that a lack of qualified personnel is the primary obstacle to AI adoption, cited by 58.6% of respondents, surpassing concerns regarding unclear regulations and data quality.