Romagna SMEs see hiring surge and push for productivity

Small and medium‑size enterprises (SMEs) in the Romagna provinces of Forlì‑Cesena and Rimini have added 17% more jobs between 2019 and 2024, with an average annual hiring rate of about 3%. The increase has been driven mainly by medium‑sized firms, which grew their workforce by 23%. SMEs now account for roughly 30% of the companies examined but generate 43% of total regional turnover and employ 54% of the workforce. Total nominal revenue reached a record €20.3 billion, slightly above pre‑pandemic levels after inflation adjustment. However, productivity per employee has not kept pace, with larger firms adding €64,500 of value per worker versus €49,200 in smaller firms, highlighting a gap that officials say must be closed.

According to Infocamere‑Movimprese data released by the Chamber of Commerce of Romagna, 78,940 business locations were registered as of 30 June 2026, of which 70,081 were active. In the second quarter of 2026 the region recorded 986 new registrations and 647 cancellations, yielding a net increase of 339 active enterprises. The sectoral mix shows commerce (21.5% of firms) slightly declining, while professional, scientific and technical services, ICT, and financial activities posted modest gains. The data suggest a stable entrepreneurial environment in Romagna despite slower growth compared with national averages.