Italy sees rise in precarious contracts and defence sector faces contract renewal stalemate

In the Marche region, the UIL Marche study of first‑quarter 2026 INPS data shows a continuing shift toward temporary and intermittent contracts, with permanent contracts representing only about 10% of new hires. Women and young workers are disproportionately employed on precarious terms, and the number of apprenticeship contracts fell, highlighting growing gender and youth inequalities in the regional labour market.

At the national level, the USMIA union representing army personnel has rejected the proposed 2025‑2027 defence and security collective agreement. The union argues that the offered 5.4% wage increase fails to recognise the specific conditions of military work and does not address key issues such as pensions, overtime, and operational allowances, threatening a split in the sector’s contract negotiations.