Italy reports significant shortage of skilled workers compared to EU average

An analysis by the Talents Venture Observatory reveals that Italy's employment rate for those aged 20-64 stands at 67.6%, placing the country in last position within the European Union. This figure is significantly lower than the EU average of 76.1% and Germany's 81.1%.

The report highlights a critical shortage in high-skilled roles. Italy has 1.8 million fewer workers in qualified positions compared to European averages. High-qualification professionals, including managers and technical experts, make up only 37.0% of the workforce, ranking Italy near the bottom of the EU, behind only Romania, Greece, and Spain.

Gender inequality remains a major factor in these statistics. The female employment rate in Italy is 58.0%, which is 13 percentage points below the EU average and nearly 20 points lower than in Germany. In contrast, the male employment rate stands at 77.1%, compared to the European average of 80.9%.