Northeast Italy manufacturing SMEs record 8,000 new hires

According to the ‘Radar Manifattura’ report by Confimi Industria, manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northeast Italy recorded over 8,000 new hires between May and September 2026. This growth occurred despite approximately 550 layoffs during the same period.

Full-time positions predominated the new entries, accounting for roughly 73% of hires. The data highlights a significant generational shift, as workers under the age of 35 represented 67.4% of all new employees (comprising 28.1% women and 39.3% men).

Despite a slowdown in demand and increased cost management, including the use of wage guarantee funds, manufacturing firms in the region continue to consolidate their workforces. The ‘Radar Manifattura’ initiative aims to provide detailed economic analysis specifically focused on private manufacturing SMEs, a sector often overshadowed by large multinationals in economic reporting.